Tributes paid at funeral of Jimi Heselden

SOLDIERS saved by the wire cage walls he invented were among those who paid tribute at the funeral of entrepreneur and philanthropist Jimi Heselden.

The funeral service took place at the Leeds headquarters of the HESCO Bastion firm Mr Heselden founded and which turned him from miner to millionaire.

Speakers at the funeral also focused on the tremendous generosity he showed to good causes including those working in his home city.

Mr Heselden is thought to have made a personal fortune of more than £160m after he came up with a way of using wire cages to build walls that are now used as a quick and cost effective way of protecting military installations and as flood defences.

His support for charities included donations totalling £23m to the Leeds Community Foundation and backing for the Help for Heroes organisation.

He died on September 26 after an accident while riding a Segway scooter near his home at Thorp Arch. Mr Heselden’s company bought Segway earlier in the year.

The service was followed by a private family burial ceremony.