Tributes have been paid to the founder of Chelston-based musical instrument company John Packer Ltd.
The directors and staff say they are “deeply heartbroken” by the passing of John Howard Packer on Saturday after a short illness.
A statement said: “While John was famously a simple man with simple needs in life, within the global music industry, he was a true force of nature.
“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that transformed a modest local enterprise into an international household name.
“John founded the company in 1974 in his hometown of Taunton. Over the next 50-plus years, he served as the unstoppable driving force behind its remarkable growth.
“His brilliant entrepreneurial skills, combined with a tireless work ethic and a rare, steadfast set of business morals, became the cornerstone of the company’s success.
“John lived and worked by a fundamental rule – he always treated people exactly the way he expected to be treated himself.
“Under his visionary leadership, John Packer Ltd achieved the highest honours in British business.
“The company was recognised with both the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2018 and the King’s Award for International Trade in 2025 — prestigious milestones which John was incredibly proud of, yet remained deeply humble about.
“John’s legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come.
“The small retail shop in Somerset he started over five decades ago has grown into an internationally-recognised brand of musical instruments sold all over the planet.
“Today, hundreds of thousands of musicians perform on a daily basis using instruments proudly bearing John’s name.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, his daughter Amber Packer-Hughes said: “Dad really was one of a kind.
“He built his business up while running a small farm, a whole host of creative, hands-on side projects and being a really involved father.
“Right up until his retirement, he was just as likely to be building shelves in the warehouse as he was to be on the shop floor or talking business strategy.
“He was never one to wear a suit or stand on ceremony, and thought of the team as a real work family.
“It’s so heartwarming to hear tributes coming in from all over the world as well as here in Somerset affirming that the kind, generous, down to earth man we knew has touched so many lives.”