TRIBUTES have today been paid to Ipswich businessman Frank Jackson MBE, who died at home earlier this month.Mr Jackson, who was 94, was the founder of the Jackson Group building contractors.

TRIBUTES have today been paid to Ipswich businessman Frank Jackson MBE, who died at home earlier this month.

Mr Jackson, who was 94, was the founder of the Jackson Group building contractors.

Today his daughter Jenny paid tribute to an "exceptional man" who will be "sorely missed" by both his family and former colleagues.

Ms Jackson said: "He was an exceptional man with an amazing strength of character. One of his main concerns throughout his business life was always the well-being of his workmen.

"He loved going out on the site. He always knew all the men by name and they all knew him.

"The company became very successful but he never changed. He lived modestly and never had a flashy car or anything like that."

Mr Jackson's company started out as Roadworks (1952) Limited when he went into business with his wife Janet in 1952. The company went from strength to strength and in 1960 divided into two, Roadworks and FJ Construction.

In 1990, Roadworks was renamed Jackson Civil Engineering and FJ Construction became Jackson building.

Over the years, Mr Jackson built a strong reputation as a good employer who cared about the welfare of his staff as well as the quality of the company.

He was known to many of his staff as simply "FJ".

Mr Jackson was awarded an MBE in 1992, four years before he retired.

Bernard Clarke, current managing director of Jackson Construction said many staff had fond memories of Mr Jackson.

"He was an individual who was a very shrewd and prudent businessman," said Mr Clarke.

"He always had the best interests of his company in mind. He was a great listener and he would value all the opinions of everyone."

Mr Clarke said the business had never lost its family roots.

"Mrs Jackson would also go out to site and get to know people. They saw it as a family business and they knew staff well, it was always a very family oriented business.

"People will have very fond memories, people who worked with him and around him would have picked up skills he had. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Jackson leaves behind two daughters, Jenny and Sonia, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Ms Jackson said: "He was very much a family man and especially enjoyed being visited by the younger children.

"Only a few weeks ago he was at a family party surrounded by all of them, and that's what he loved best."

The family would like to invite all who knew Mr Jackson to attend a celebration of his life at Seckford Hall, near Woodbridge, on Saturday July 17 from 3.30pm to 5pm. Employees of the Jackson Group will be particularly welcome.