THE man who started Wellfares, one of Southend’s best known stores, has died aged 96.

Born Linton Lewis Wellfare in 1914, but known as Len, he started LL Wellfare furniture shop in Sutton Road in 1946. It expanded over the years and a second shop opened selling electrical goods.

The store, known as Wellfares was set to close, but it has just been announced it will reopen as BDL Furnishers.

Mr Wellfare was raised by his grandmother when his mother left him age two. Aged 15, he joined the Navy and in 1933 met his future wife, Dorothy Pateman, who was just 14, on Bognor Regis Pier.

They kept in touch and greeted the outbreak of war by getting married in 1940.

After setting up and running a successful shop, Mr Wellfare turned to politics.

His son, Richard, said his dad was the first Conservative to break into the local Labour stronghold of the then All Saints ward.

He also opened the Wellfare Estate Agency in Southchurch Road, and Wellfare Properties, which specialised in loft conversions.

A keen golfer, he played at Thorpe Hall Golf Club for many years and lived in Thorpe Hall Avenue before retiring to Spain.

After the death of Dorothy in the Nineties, ill health brought him back to the UK, where he spent his last years in Thorpe Bay.

Mr Wellfare leaves four children and six grandchildren.