Former Grattan chairman Robert Owthwaite, who was a driving force behind the company's rapid expansion during the 1950s and 60s, has died at the age of 90.

The Bradford-born businessman played a key role in the growth of the catalogue giant which he joined as a floor sweeper in 1930.

He rose through the ranks at the firm, which his father Sydney had helped to set up, eventually becoming a director and then spending ten years as chairman. He eventually retired from the firm in January 1978.

Under his guidance, Grattan became one of the UK's blue-chip catalogue firms and employed several thousand people at its Bradford headquarters.

In 1980, he was appointed High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and the following year he was made Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

Today his son Peter said his father, who also held the post of vice-chairman at the former Provincial Building Society, had been dedicated to Bradford and Grattan.

"He was totally committed to the mail order shopping industry and he regarded his employees as his friends," said Mr Owthwaite, also a former director of the firm. "He fostered mutual respect no matter what job you did in the company.

"It was one big family, with us all facing the same aim of making Grattan the number one.

"He was born in Bradford, lived here all his life, and most of his friends and family lived here. I cannot see that he would have ever thought about leaving."

Outside work, Robert was president of the York-based Yorkshire Gentlemen's Cricket Club, was president of the Bradford Union Club and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1962.

His hobbies included tennis, travel, walking, jigsaws and his collection of old Bentley motor cars.

Mr Owthwaite said his father, who died on Monday after a short illness, had been highly respected by his colleagues and friends alike.

"He was a very mindful and caring man - a man of his word and he had a very high code of conduct."

Robert Owthwaite, whose wife Deda died in 1995, leaves four children, 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. A service of thanksgiving is due to take place at Bradford Cathedral on Monday at 1pm.