WELL known Forest businesman Harry Grindle passed away last Friday, at the age of 84.

Known throughout the area through his transport interests, Harry developed his family's coach and holiday company after he took control of it following the death of his father in 1962.

Harry's father, Roy, was the founder of the Grindles transport dynasty, starting as Roy Grindle and Sons with charabancs in the mid 1920s although the family business had been making deliveries by pony and trap for many years before.

Under the management of Harry's son Philip Grindle the company continues to this day.

Harry spent his final days in the Townsend House nursing home in Mitcheldean after a three month stay in hospital.

His daughter, Pam Randell, told the Review: "Dad passed away on Friday at the nursing home, although I had wanted him to come home, but sadly it wasn't going to be an option.

"My daughter Sally was riding that day in the Army Hunter Chase horse race at Sandown and texted me to say that she had won it for her Gramps, but she didn't know that he had gone although she had actually dreamed the night before that he had passed away."

Harry Grindle's funeral will take place at Holy Trinity Church in Drybrook on Thursday March 21. He is to be conveyed there in a vintage six-wheel coach, that he himself restored.

Sally Randell has become a very successful jockey, and has enjoyed great success both during her time with the Army and since she left the service. As ex-services staff she is entitled to ride in military races and has won some significant ones including the Artillery Gold Cup and the Grand Military Cup. The prize for the latter was presented to her by the Queen.