Tributes have been pouring in for All-In-One Garden Centre founder Dave Stafford, who has died at the age of 71 following a 15-month battle against kidney cancer.

Dave passed away peacefully on March 26 with his family by his side.

Former All-In-One Garden Centre managing director Rod Slater worked for Dave for 37 years, starting as a weekend worker and moving through the ranks.

"I have known Dave all my working life and I am grateful he took me under his wing," said Rod. "He was always there to help with training and advice because he wanted knowledgeable people around him. He invested time and energy in his staff because he was a real people's person."

Dave opened the All-In-One Garden Centre in 1971, and with his then wife Beryl, it quickly grew and developed into thriving business.

In 1988 Dave used his earlier building trade experience in a significant £2 million rebuild of the centre. 

Coming from outside the industry was never seen by him as a disadvantage – quite the opposite, as he pioneered the store into new categories such as Christmas, leisure and gift products.

A former Chairman of the Garden Centre Association, Dave was a passionate supporter of the trade body and his colleagues in the trade. Dave regularly supported the association at the regional, national and international level. Indeed the opportunity to join his colleagues from around the world at their annual congress was a highlight in his year.

Another former GCA Chairman Steve Myatt had this tribute for Dave. "He was a leader and setter of standards in the North West and a business I aspired to when we first became involved in the GCA. 

"He was a tireless promoter of the benefits of being a member of  the GCA and strong figure in the organisation. A very generous man always willing to share his knowledge and successes to help you no matter how small you were. 

"I was always grateful for the time he spent giving advice in those early days, and his support when I became GCA Chairman. He will be missed."

And Guy Topping, of Barton Grange, added: "Dave was one of the legendary garden centre pioneers. He was never short of an opinion and I spent many enjoyable hours travelling by train to GCA Exec meetings. 

"Time spent with Dave was always interesting and humorous, he always had a joke up his sleeve. 

"Dave was very proud of everything he was involved in be it All-In-One, his family or Rochdale FC."

Dave retired from daily duties in the business in 2008 but remained as chairman of the board. Together with his wife Sue, they chose North Wales as his final home where he loved spending time with family and his two loyal dogs. Although his time retired was relatively brief, David lived life to the full and lead what he described as a 'privileged life'.

The final word goes to son Jason Stafford, now financial director of All-In-One.

"My father was quite unique in many ways but always thought of himself just an ordinary bloke. He touched so many people's lives with his love, support, patience and empathy. 

"Often outspoken and never one to shy away, he'd often be the guy to stand up to ask that awkward question or to say what he thought to be right. Of course, not everybody always agreed with him but one of the things most people would say is you knew where you stood with Dave Stafford.

"He was well known for his little phrases such as his standard greeting

'Happy New Christmas'. Latterly, he would be quoted as to how much he loved his grandchildren and 'how he wished he'd had them first'.

"The term 'pioneer' is sometimes used to describe colleagues in our industry – to use it to describe Dave Stafford and his achievements somehow doesn’t seem adequate. His tremendous life and legacy lives on."

A humble man taken too soon, sadly missed but fondly remembered.