A former director and chairman of a major textile firm who served the business for decades and was integral to its success has died.

Geoffrey Halstead, from Radcliffe, who died on Thursday, August 22 aged 94, worked for James Halstead Plc for 70 years, a company founded by his grandfather James in 1915.

Geoffrey was born on February 3, 1930, in Radcliffe Hospital to John Halstead and Elizabeth (nee Valentine) and grew up in a two up two down terrace on Suthers Street in Radcliffe, close to the company's factory entrance.

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In 1922, James bought a parcel of land from Lord Derby surrounding his textile business.

The stables from that land were converted to a family home and this and the adjoining property remains as the family residence.

The head office and main factory in Radcliffe still occupy this 20-acre site.

Geoffrey joined the firm in 1947 as the business moved away from textiles into new ventures, one of which was Polyflor resilient sheet.

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He led the expansion of vinyl sheet flooring from the beginnings of the Polyflor brand.

And by the early 1960s Polyflor had become a significant part of the group and received a glowing review in the August 1961 issue of consumer magazine Which, confirming the company's well respected status in the UK.

Geoffrey was heavily involved in the exports of the flooring and travelled extensively across South Africa, Australia and the Middle East, promoting the product and expanding sales.

During the oil crisis in 1974 the company was heavily indebted, and Geoffrey took the helm as chief executive to return the group to solid foundations and to clear the debt.

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For 55 years he was a director of the group and for 17 years, until December 1, 2017, he was chairman.

Since then until his death, Geoffrey had been honorary life president.

He is remembered for always being "generous in his praise of the management and workforce during his tenure as CEO and chairman, and he watched the business expand as it concentrated on its core business of flooring".

He is survived by his wife Evelyn, who he married in 1954, and his children Mark and Gayle.