John Toomer, who owned and ran the Toomers garden and pet retail businesses in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, has died. The 79-year-old had been ill for three months with cancer.
It was in 1954 that John Toomer joined the family business, which was founded by one of his antecedents - another John Toomer - in Swindon in 1850. It began life as a coal merchant's but by the 1930s the coal business had dwindled and Toomers was starting to replace it with trade in animal feeds and garden and pet supplies.
The enterprise subsequently developed into Toomers Garden Centre in Swindon and a garden and pet shop in Cirencester.
John Toomer was not only managing director of Toomers but had also been Swindon Borough Council's Conservative leader. He served on the council between 1967 and 1974.
Mr Toomer's son Paul will now take up the reins of running the garden centre business, which has been in his family for eight generations.
"My father was semi-retired so he was still coming into the business weekly. It's very sad for us. He was hard working, he was a fantastic father and I was very proud of all he achieved," said Paul.
A service of thanksgiving will be held at Christ Church in Swindon on Friday, September 13. No flowers, but donations can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support and the Prospect Hospice c/o Hillier Funeral Service, 170 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3DF.
