A FORMER Kays employee has paid tribute to “The man who saved Next” Sir David Jones, who worked at the city firm.

Michael Ashby, from West Malvern, wrote to the Worcester News about his “great sadness” upon hearing the news that the businessman had died aged 76.

Mr Ashby wrote: “I received the news of the death of Sir David Jones with great sadness.

“To many people, Sir David was the man who saved Next - My memory of the man is much earlier.

“I joined Kay and Co in 1968 and Sir David was my boss.

“Over the next ten years I learnt a great deal about the man, his unstoppable determination and and irresistible enthusiasm.”

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Mr Ashby said that under Mr Jones’ guidance, he became stock audit manager, saying: “With this promotion, he instructed me that every door within the company was open to me, even his.

“I know that today, Heaven’s door is wide open for him - Rest in peace.”

Sir David was born in Malvern in 1943 and was the son of a watchmaker.

He studied at The King’s School in Worcester and started out at Kays as a 17 year-old office junior, becoming finance director at the age of 26 and assistant managing director by 30.

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He moved to Yorkshire to work for Grattan in the 1980s before becoming involved with Next.

He then took over Next in the 1990s when it was on the brink of collapse, saving the business and turning it into the UK’s third biggest fashion chain behind M&S and the Arcadia group of shops, becoming chairman in 2002.

He also held board positions at both JJB Sports and Morrisons despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease aged just 39.

In 2015, he appeared in court facing fraud charges after was accused of forging a bank statement to disguise the fact he had borrowed £1.5m. The trial was abandoned due to his ill health.

Kays was one of Worcester’s best known retailers, existing in the city between 1890 and 2007, becoming one of the city's largest employers.