Tributes paid to Boston businessman

Garth Isaac reportedly died following an accident in Lisbon, Portugal, over the weekend.

Cousin Adrian Isaac today said: “Garth was the liveliest of extroverts throughout his life”

Garth and his cousin were part of the family which developed the Oldrids business for about 50 years.

Adrian said: “Garth’s particular contribution was as a fountain of ideas, and although not all were realistic a number proved successful when developed.”

Then, together with another cousin Bob and other colleagues, he helped create The Georgians Nursing Home, in Wide Bargate, in the late 1980s.

Some 10 years later he and Bob ,together with Bob’s son David, purchased Johnsons Garden Centre.

Adrian said that the centre was given considerable investment to develop it into a ‘destination shop’ which Garth said had gone ‘from an acorn to an oak tree’.

Adrian said: “He never lost interest in retail and would often call in to see staff and customers, sometimes several times a day!”

He said that in his leisure time Garth was passionate about his cars which included both the latest models and a pre-war vintage collection.

He loved restoring them to their original condition, and often drove them to rallies all over the country, creating contacts and friends all over the UK.

Another great interest of Garth’s were his holidays, which enabled him to experience different cultures and ideas.

It was as a result of one such trip that he began supporting one or two youngsters in The Gambia, funding them until they graduated.

Adrian said: “Garth was often spontaneously generous in his support of people and causes.

“He will mainly be missed for his lively and friendly banter- a true character in our town.”

Boston-in-Bloom chairman Alison Fairman has also paid tribute to the popular businessman, who was a supporter of the initiative from the beginning.

She said: “Not only was he a regular with the litter-picking team, but he was the instigator and sponsor of the much-admired sheep silhouettes on the Wide Bargate roundabout.

“He loved Boston and wanted to see it bloom. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”

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