Sir Jack Petchey | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1925-07-19)19 July 1925 |
| Died | 27 June 2024(2024-06-27) (aged 98) Wapping, London, England |
| Occupations | Businessman and philanthropist |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | One son, three daughters |
Sir Jack PetcheyCBE (19 July 1925 – 27 June 2024) was an English businessman and philanthropist.
He was born on 19 July 1925 inPlaistow,Essex.[1][2][3] He came from a working-class family and was brought up in theEast End ofLondon,[4] leaving school aged 13.[1]
During the Second World War, he served in theRoyal Navy.[1]
Petchey started a car hire and car sales business. From his profits he invested in property and timeshare which grew into a business empire valued over half a billionpounds by 2007. He became known as the grandfather oftimeshare, and amassed his fortune with marketing in UK and abroad. It was the resort in Albufeira, Portugal, where the real timeshare boom took place, right up to late 2000s, when the whole conglomerate of leisure businesses was sold.[5] In 1969, he was involved with property development, becoming one of the most successful businessmen in Britain.[6]
Petchey's involvement in football first came when he was appointed a director ofWest Ham United in 1978.[7] He then went on to ownWatford Football Club which he bought fromElton John in 1987.[8] He resigned as chairman in March 1994 and sold the club back to the singer.[9]
The Jack Petchey Foundation runs an Achievement Award scheme – a reward and recognition initiative which enables schools and youth organisations to celebrate the achievements of their young people as well as receive additional funding.[citation needed]
The foundation has funding available for educational visits and for young volunteers to carry out projects both in the UK and abroad.[citation needed] The foundation was also the central funding body of thePetchey Academy and the Petchey Centre for Entrepreneurship. The Foundation has a branch inAlbufeira,Portugal, which does similar work to its British counterpart.[10]
Petchey was nominated as aScouting In London Ambassador forthe Scout Association Region for Greater London at an Adult Appreciation ceremony in 2008.[6]
As of May 2017, he was worth an estimated £550 million.[1]
Petchey was married twice. He first married Diane Harrison in 1949; they had four children.[1] In 2016 at the age of 90 he married a second time toFrances Segelman, a sculptor.[1] He died at his home in Wapping, London, on 27 June 2024, at the age of 98.[11]
Petchey was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2004 Birthday Honours for services to Young People in East London and Essex through the Jack Petchey Foundation,[12] andCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the2011 Birthday Honours for charitable services.[13][14] He wasknighted in the2016 New Year Honours for services to young people in East London and Essex through the Jack Petchey Foundation.[15][16]
On 27 May 2010, he was given theFreedom of the Borough ofNewham.[17]
He was also made a HonoraryCommodore in theSea Cadet Corps.[18]