Tributes paid to former Rushden Grenson boss Terry Purslow

Tributes have been paid to an award-winning businessman who ran Rushden’s Grenson shoemakers for more than two decades.

Terry Purslow was the driving force at William Green & Son, the company which since 1866 owned the famous Grenson brand, until he retired in 2004.

He joined at the height of the so-called Thatcher recession in 1980, initially as managing director, before later becoming its owner and helping the business thrive.

Terry died on September 16 at the age of 85 after a long illness, with his beloved wife Jean at his side.

His son Christian, who is chief executive officer of Aston Villa Football Club, said: “I am so proud that my dad came to Rushden at a low point in the shoemaking trade and rescued one of the country’s great brands – Grenson – which has gone from strength to strength ever since.

"His priority was always trying to keep the factory busy to protect jobs and he truly gave his heart and soul to the business for nearly thirty years.

"Current owner Tim Little told me recently that my dad is a legend. That’s good enough for me. He taught me everything I know.”

Terry began his career on the Littlewoods management training programme in his native Merseyside and became a senior executive at Arthur Guinness & Sons.

When he joined Grenson it was, like many Northamptonshire shoemakers, in deep financial trouble. The chairman, Mr JWH Green, was the fourth generation of the Green family to lead the business and decided that they needed to appoint a professional chief executive to try to turn the firm around.

Terry saw the unmatched history and authenticity of Grenson’s heritage and its tradition for quality and believed that with a new sales and marketing approach, and more rigorous financial controls, the company could be saved. Working initially alongside Mr Green Terry’s plans were highly successful.

Sales grew quickly and the company returned to profitability. On his arrival Terry had agreed that he would acquire the company over time if the turnaround was successful and by the late 1980s he owned 100 per cent of the firm.

They expanded into new retail distribution channels in London and New York and its wholesale business in key luxury export markets such as Italy, France and Japan thrived under Terry’s relentless push for sales to keep the factory busy.

At the peak under his leadership there were more than 200 people in the Rushden factory and head office. Terry received numerous awards for his contribution to the British footwear and fashion industries. He passed control of the company to his son, who eventually arranged its sale to creative director Tim Little, under whose leadership the Grenson brand has gone from strength to strength. They now have four stores in London.

The firm left its historic factory, which was on the corner of Upper Queen Street and Cromwell Road, when they moved to modern premises at Crown Park in the town in 2013. The old factory was given the go-ahead to be turned into flats.

Terry leaves four children and ten grandchildren. His funeral will take place at OLEM Church in Cambridge (CB2 1JR) at 12.15pm on Tuesday, October 4.