Tributes to respected accountant

FRIENDS, family and colleagues have paid tribute to one of the most respected and experienced accountants in Yorkshire who has died after a battle with cancer.

Roger Henton, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer last May, died two weeks ago at his home in Leeds with his wife and two children at his side.

Mr Henton, who was 68, was responsible for launching two successful accountancy practices in Yorkshire.

In 1978 he launched Henton & Peycke chartered accountancy practice in York Place, Leeds with partner Ray Peycke, who himself died of cancer in 2002.

The firm merged with PKF in 1993 and Mr Henton left to launch Hentons accountants with new partner Nadeem Ahmed.

Hentons now has 40 staff and Mr Ahmed said: “I worked with Roger for 15 years and we set off together to build up the general practice. He was an absolute English gentleman and his contribution to business in Yorkshire is understated because because as accountants you work behind the scenes to make a difference to business.

“At his funeral last week so many clients came up to tell me how much respect they had for him for what he had done,” added Mr Ahmed.

Mr Henton was married to successful Yorkshire-based entrepreneur Suzanne Hart who founded and later sold York Place Company Services.

She said: “He fought a brave and difficult fight and dealt with the rigours of his treatment and the promise of short life without complaint. His colleagues, many business acquaintances and friends have been generous in their condolences and tributes.

“He was known as a fair man, a generous man, a man of integrity. He took seriously his social responsibilities and had for some years been an active governor of the Leeds College of Art and Design and a trustee of the Second World War Experience Centre charity.

“He was a good man, a shrewd man, an interesting man and a man who was instrumental in helping create new businesses and rescue failing businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire particularly throughout his 35 years in the business circuit in Leeds. He created opportunities for others.  He was alternative in his thinking.  He was learned in his approach.  He was unassuming yet sat behind many a success story.

“All who knew him will miss him.”

Mr Henton enjoyed sport, captaining his Bedford School rugby team, playing golf where he was a past captain of Scarcroft Golf Club and skiing where his accomplishments included skiing a black run whilst lighting a cigar.

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