TRIBUTE has been paid to one of the founders of a Cleethorpes estate agency which has been in business for more than 40 years.

Reginald Joseph Bettles died peacefully, aged 91, in Hull at the home of one of his three daughters.

He started his insurance brokers' business, which later grew into Bettles, Miles and Holland estate agency.

It is now thriving in Sea View Street, Cleethorpes, under the ownership of David Holland.

He was the third partner to join after Mr Bettles forged a partnership in the 1950s with Selwyn Miles.

Before the partnership, Mr Bettles was a well-know insurance broker. That began when he worked for Lindsey Oil Refinery as a haulage contractor and he arranged insurance for associates.

David Holland said: "He was so highly-regarded, a number of people began asking him to sell their houses for them and that was the start of his estate agency, which he ran from the cab of his lorry."

He added: "He was a sparkling character. He was someone who kept humour to the fore in all he did. His legacy was the way he conducted his work, which was always thorough. He was a good family man.

"People often ask about the estate agency's name and where it came from. We often joked it was Beetles, Mice and Hedgehogs.

"The business has survived on the good foundations that he put down."

His eldest daughter Judith White said: "There will be many people who he helped move house who will remember him.

"He used to work all hours. But he always found time for gardening and when he was younger he did a lot of wine-making."

He and his wife Doris lived at North Thoresby for many years. After he retired more than 25 years ago the couple moved to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, to live with Judith.

Doris died in May last year.

Mr Bettles is survived by his three daughters, Judith, Marion and Janet, and eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

A funeral service was held at Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, in January.

Pay tribute to Mr Bettles at our Lasting Tribute website