Tributes paid to businessman, 36

Tributes have been paid to a 36-year-old Shropshire businessman who died after losing his battle against cancer.

Carl Jefferies, one of the directors of Browns of Wem Ltd, died on September 4. He has been described as a "quiet yet strong" man by family and colleagues.

Mr Jefferies and his wife Emily, who had settled down in Shrewsbury, have two young daughters.

He was a former Newtown CE Primary School and Ellesmere College pupil, before he went to Liverpool University and gained a Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours in 1994.

Mr Jefferies joined the family firm, Browns of Wem Ltd, and became a director in 1995, pioneering the computerisation of the company.

Mr Jefferies up the sales team. He helped produce some of Browns's most prestigious projects.

He was also keen on property development and management and kept his interest in the family farm.

Mr Jefferies's cousin, Vicky Evans who is a director of Browns of Wem Ltd, said: "We all miss him very much. He was a quiet and diligent man and very much the diplomat. He was also a very strong person and certainly hard working.

"He will be missed by a lot of people."

The funeral service is due to take place at King Charles the Martyr Church in Newtown, near Wem, on Monday at noon.