A successful businessman who ran a gentleman's outfitters and uniform factory has died.

Martin Sharp – who was at the helm of Sharp's tailors which first opened in Broadstairs in 1923 and expanded to branches in Maidstone, Herne Bay and Ashford – was 80.

The family business also owned DD Freeman, a club and company tie supplier from a factory in Herne Bay.

In the 1990s, Martin sold the retail side to Moss Bros and focused on manufacturing security uniforms, corporate wear and promotional goods,

It was a wise move as the company soon outgrew its premises in central Maidstone and moved to a larger purpose-built operation in Tovil.

He bought and ran a uniform factory in the Midlands with a customer base in the UK, Channel Islands and Bermuda.

His training included working at Simpsons of Piccadilly – once the largest menswear store in Britain – and, unusually for the time, he undertook work experience in America at a department store on Fifth Avenue, New York, a time which was incredibly formative. Just as the war in Vietnam was breaking out, he returned to the UK to help run the family business.

He was an active member of the Federation of Small Businesses and he worked hard to lobby parliament to improve the legislation for small business owners.

Martin loved people and he couldn’t go anywhere in Maidstone, where he had a shop in Gabriel's Hill, or the surrounding area without bumping into a familiar face, an old customer, a previous employee or a friend from way back. Martin also lived in the Maidstone area.

As a younger man, he played for Maidstone Rugby Club’s first 15 and captained it from 1966-68. He loved golf and until recently was an active member of Royal St George’s at Sandwich, as well as Bearsted and North Foreland Golf Clubs. He also belonged to the Ariston Metron and Grasshoppers Golfing Societies.

Ever sociable, Martin was a member, trustee and past president of the Maidstone Club in Earl Street. Although the Earl Street club has gone now, Martin enjoyed many evenings socialising and playing snooker with other club members. When the Maidstone club closed, he became a member of the Stone Street Club where he continued to enjoy playing snooker.

Martin attended Hill Place School in Maidstone and Sevenoaks School where for a time he headed Johnson’s Boarding house.

Martin leaves behind his wife Christine and his five children – Alice, Tom, Ellen, Guy and AJ – eight grandchildren and sister Judie Smith.

He died on Monday, December 5 and his funeral is on Thursday, December 22 at St Nicholas' Church in Leeds.

His family ask for donations in lieu of flowers to The Woodland Trust and Macmillan. Further details from A W Court Funeral Directors.