WARM tributes have been paid to Wynford Jones, the first chief executive of Business Link Kent, who has died at the age of 68.

Mr Jones, who lived at East Malling, near Maidstone, died in hospital. He had been unwell for some time while awaiting a liver transplant.

There were few businesses in Kent and Medway who did not know Mr Jones, through his work firstly in East Kent and later as head of Kent Enterprise Agencies Limited (KEAL).

He headed BLK - part of a network of Links set up by Michael Heseltine, the then Trade and Industry Secretary - from its inception in 1995 until his retirement in 2001.

Under his leadership, BLK, based in Kings Hill, West Malling, became one of the country's leading Links, achieving an ISO 9001 quality seal of approval in record time, exceeding targets and helping scores of businesses across the county.

Leading figures in the county had recently recommended him for an honour from the Queen.

Jeremy Leigh Pemberton, who worked closely with Mr Jones as BLK's first chairman, said he was a highly intelligent man with wide industrial experience.

"He brought this tremendous organising ability into BLK and that gave it a very good kick-start," he said.

Mr Leigh Pemberton said Mr Jones was a workaholic who demanded a lot both from himself and colleagues.

But these were ideal qualities for a leader starting something from scratch. "There is no harm in having some element of despotism in your management style," he said."His legacy to Kent business is a remarkable one. I am sorry he wasn't able to live longer to enjoy his retirement."

Mr Jones, an engineer, worked for Ford of Europe in several senior posts before bringing his expertise to Kent.

BLK spokeswoman Roz Glick said: "All the staff here are greatly saddened by the news. We all had the utmost respect for him, and I, personally, knew him to be a kind man and one of life's real gentlemen."

Mr Jones, whose wife died a few years ago, is survived by a married daughter Claire.

A private funeral is being held at East Malling church on Thursday, July 31, at 11.30am followed by a memorial service there at 1pm.