Patrick Bird, joint managing director of Derbyshire-based family business Birds Bakery, has passed away after a short illness.

Joint managing director since 1992, Patrick retired from the day-to-day running of the business in 2016. Managing director Nicholas Bird will continue in his current role, and staff have been informed the business will not be affected and will continue to operate as normal.

“Patrick was a first-class baker and confectioner with a passion to consistently produce fresh-quality products with the finest ingredients every day for the customers of Birds Bakery,” said the company.

Birds was founded as Birds the Confectioners by brothers Frank, Thomas and Reginald Bird in 1919, who had returned from the First World War and purchased an existing shop in Derby.

The business is currently marking its centenary with the revival of some of its traditional baked goods.