HUNDREDS of former millworkers are this week mourning the loss of Leigh's last gentleman mill owner.

Jonathan Hayes, who received the OBE in the Queens Silver Jubilee Honours List for his services to King Cotton, has died in St George's Hospital, Wimbledon, after a stroke. He was 89.

The ex-managing director of J and J Hayes' Victoria Mills was a real benefactor who never forgot the long-serving staff who worked for him.

He has contributed to an annual Christmas reunion every year since the mill's demise in 1991.

Mr Hayes, who was educated at Charterhouse and Manchester University, entered the family business in Victoria Street in 1931.

In 1956 he took over as managing director at J and J Hayes and vice-chairman of Hayeshaw, which was formed with Tootal Broadhurst and Greenhouse and Shaw.

In 1966 the family firm was taken over and he became general manager of the Carpet Yarns Group, Courtaulds Ltd, retiring in the 80s.

Born in Newton-le-Willows, Mr Hayes lived for a while in Culcheth before moving to Worsley.

He was a member of Leigh Golf Club and was a local director of the Royal Insurance Company Ltd.

He had an active interest in the Trustee Savings Bank after becoming honorary manager of the Leigh branch in 1962. In 1965 he was elected a trustee and chairman of the Leigh Bank Committee of Management and before amalgamation of the Bank he was president and chairman.

He was also a member of the TSB Central Board and TSB Trust Company Ltd.

He retired to Wimbledon where he continued his love of tennis, golf, photography and gardening.

The mill's last general manager, Mr Edgar Milner, said: "Jonathan Hayes was a real gentleman who was admired by all his employees."