Affectionate tributes have been paid to a “truly inspirational” supporter of the Epping community who had “the desire, courage and vision” to start a business that continues to thrive 60 years later.

Family and friends gathered at St John’s Church on Monday for the funeral of Len Stace following his death at the age of 92.

Close friend and fellow Rotarian John Padfield praised his “remarkable contribution” to the organisation during 45 years as a member, while another long-standing friend and business colleague Glyn Crawley said: “In what Len did and achieved, he changed people’s lives and I and many of colleagues will always be eternally grateful for being one of those.”

Leonard Edwin Stace, who lived in Epping, was born on February 3, 1929 in Leyton. He attended Leyton County High School and was a highly ambitious young man determined to make his way in the world.

From humble beginnings in East London, he embarked on a distance learning correspondence course in quantity surveying and after starting work in 1959, he formed the Leonard Stace Partnership on April 1, 1961.

The firm, now named Stace LLP, has grown to employ more than 200 people in five offices across England, but its roots remain firmly in Epping where more than 80 people work and the business continues to support the local community.

Although Len leaves an impressive business legacy, it is what he achieved for the Epping community that he is likely to best remembered.

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He hosted, organised and donated to local and international charitable events for most of his adult life, joined the Rotary Club of Epping Forest in 1976, served as president twice and his list of accomplishments were numerous and considerable.

Among his highlights were helping to reinstate Epping’s fireworks display, saving Copped Hall mansion from demolition, setting up the club’s annual ‘service above self’ award, leading the support for an extension to Abbeyfield care home in North Weald as well as organising trips to theatres, stately homes and gardens. He also volunteered to help transport live organs for donation.

Praising Len’s “remarkable contribution”, Mr Padfield said: “He was a truly inspirational Rotarian always, undoubtedly, very ably supported by his wife, Joan.”

Len and Joan were married for 68 years and most of those were spent tending their garden together. The saplings they planted at the beginning are now very mature trees and every year they produced and fed the family on organic fruit and vegetables, while there is always an abundance of flowers during the summer months.

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The couple travelled extensively during their marriage but equally enjoyed spending time closer to home, instilling a love of Cornwall in their family.

Quick to make a quip or a joke, Len will also be remembered for his sense of humour and took great pleasure in the achievements of family members. “He was most definitely still enjoying life at 92,” his daughter Kerry said.

Len Stace died on August 25. He leaves wife Joan, four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.