Tributes are being paid following the death of a Flintshire timber manufacturing company's former chairman.

Malcolm Morgan, 80, from Llanferres, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Pendine Park Care Home with his family by his side.

Mr Morgan was being cared for at Pendine Park having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2013.

Malcolm was the chairman of the P&A Group in Mold, which includes The Woodworks Garden Centre and Café, based on Wrexham Road, as well as divisions of timber manufacturing.

A well-loved husband, father and grandfather, Mr Morgan leaves behind his wife Margaret and two sons David and Steven, as well as grandchildren Eve, Ben, Sam and Nell.

His wife Margaret said how grateful she was for the kindness shown to Mr Morgan during his time at Pendine Park, and for making her feel welcome and for the support they gave to the family.

Mrs Morgan said: “I would like to say thank you in particular to those at P&A who supported Malcolm and I during his illness and I would also like to say how proud he would be of the whole family for looking after each other.”

Mr Morgan, born in Dundee, Scotland, was from a family spanning five generations of timber manufacturing. He was the son of George and Nora Morgan, timber merchants from Ravenscraig in Crieff.

He attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland until entering the Black Watch to do his national service in 1955 at the age of 18.

When he came down from Scotland to North Wales with his family in 1967, he began working for Flintshire Woodlands, before taking a job making pallets for the Mold based Palliser and Ashgrove, where he then went on to become production manager.

When Palliser and Ashgrove closed down in 1985, that very same week, Mr Morgan purchased the former Palliser and Ashgrove site and built up his own company, calling it P&A Fencing & Sheds, which is now known as the P&A Group and has grown to employ over 200 people from Mold and the surrounding areas.

His son Steve, said: “David and I would like to pay tribute to our father for his generous and fair approach to life and business.

“We know he would be very proud of what we have been able to achieve as a family business and we hope to continue to be an important part of the British timber industry, as I know this is what he would have wanted.”

After retiring as managing director at P&A in 2000, Mr Morgan and his wife took time away and enjoyed frequent drives to Portugal, a place where he had many fond memories with family.

Speaking on behalf of the staff at P&A, Rhys Hughes, operations director said: “Our thoughts go out to Margaret, David, Steve and the family at this difficult time.

“Malcolm was a truly inspirational boss, so passionate about both the business and all of the people within it. A very genuine and honest person who was so well thought of, not only here at P&A, but also in the wider timber industry.

“He was a true gentleman and will be missed by us all,” Rhys added.