Tributes have been paid to former Wrights Pies director David Wright, who passed away last week in sudden and unexpected circumstances.

In a statement announcing his uncle’s death to the company’s employees, David’s nephew Peter Wright, the current chairman & CEO of Wrights Food Group, said: “David was managing director of the company from 1962 until his retirement in 1993. He had been involved with the business all his life and took over running of the company following the death of his father, the founder John James Wright.

“He was a familiar face around the bakery and paid a weekly visit to enjoy breakfast with family members and catch up with the company’s news. I know he was tremendously proud of what the team achieved together.

“Our special thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with his beloved wife Margaret.”

David joined the family business as a boy and, in his time, did virtually every job in the bakery, from driving the company vans, making pie shells to bottling and preserving huge jars of fruit.