The funeral of a highly-respected East Anglian businessman is due to take place today (Wednesday, April 18).

Jim Hughes played a key role in building the Hughes Electrical retail chain, which was set up by his father Frank.

He was born in Lowestoft in October 1929, and joined the family firm which had been established in 1921. Hughes Electrical’s first shop was in Tonning Street, Lowestoft, where the company built and sold radios.

The business was taken on by passionate Ipswich Town fan Jim, his sister Phyllis and brother Peter in 1947 following his father’s death, and they expanded the business across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The company, which now has 41 stores employing 800 staff, continues to be led by sons Robert and Jeremy, the third generation of the Hughes family to run the business. The funeral is at St Benet’s Roman Catholic Church in Beccles at 3pm.