Former Comet chairman dies
TRIBUTES have been paid to the former chairman of electrical giant Comet.
Michael Hollingbery OBE, 76, of Bishop Burton, died while visiting his son in Winchester.
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Michael Hollingbery OBE
The millionaire businessman sold the family firm, Comet, to Kingfisher for £50m in 1984.
His father, George, founded the company in 1933, renting out radios and batteries.
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In the 1950s, he set up his first shop in George Street, Hull, later expanding to Driffield and Bridlington. He died in 1958, aged 55.
Michael Hollingbery took over aged 25 and, in a revolutionary move, launched the UK's first out-of-town superstore.
The warehouse-style discount store sold only radios and TVs and the products were kept packed away in boxes.
Mr Hollingbery's wife of 37 years, Karen Hollingbery, said: "He was very fortunate during this time that he had a lot of friends and his father's friends, who helped him with the business. They were hugely supportive."
Mr Hollingbery was born in Harrogate, but grew up in Kirk Ella. He met his wife in 1960 in Hessle and they wed two years later at St Mary's Church in Beverley.
They had three children – George, 45, Jo, 43, and Richard, 41 – and six grandchildren.
Mrs Hollingbery, said: "He worked hard, but he was also a family man. He was very dynamic and enthusiastic, with a razor-sharp brain. He was a very, very kind and generous friend to many people."
Mr Hollingbery was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to the community.
He donated money to various charitable causes, including the postgraduate education centre at the University of Hull, Humberside Youth Association and cancer charities.
Mr Hollingbery died on September 3. A small private funeral will be held later this month. A thanksgiving service will be held at St Mary's Church in Beverley on Thursday, October 8, at 1pm.
Comments
by devilsadvocate, Hull
Thursday, September 17 2009, 8:31AM
“l think it was 1985 when myself and my friend were travelling down to the RL final at Wembley on the Hull train. We always went down early so it would've been a Thursday.
We had dinner on the train and for some reason we ended up sat with this gentleman who was traveling by himself.
We must have looked a little strange all sat at the same table as we were dressed casual in our rugby shirts/jeans and he was in a suit.
We ended up never leaving the table till we arrived at Kings Cross! The drinks had flowed and we'd talked, laughed and joked the whole way there.
We'd sat down not knowing each other from Adam but by the end of the journey were on first name terms.
Michael flatly refused to let us pay for our meal and drinks and picked up the tab for it all. He said he couldn't recall having had such an entertaining and enjoyable trip to London.
Condolances to his family ... he was a true gent ... and one of the 'boys' ;-)”