Neville Johnson, the extraordinary family man, business entrepreneur and industry pioneer, passed away in September at the age of 81. Widely considered to be one of the original architects of the fitted kitchen concept, he leaves an impressive personal and professional legacy.

A self-made man with an unquenchable entrepreneurial spirit, his first qualification was a mechanic’s apprenticeship, even selling The Beatles their first official tour bus. Switching from vehicles to kitchens after securing a £1,000 loan from a friend’s father, Johnson began his KBB career selling Formica worktops from his garage in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.

From these humble beginnings he worked tirelessly to grow his first business – Kitchen Queen – building stores and factories across the UK; with one opened by Prince Philip. When Johnson floated the company on the stock market in 1979, shares were 33 times oversubscribed.

In 1987, he set up his eponymous company Neville Johnson Kitchens, establishing a reputation for quality fitted kitchen design and brand loyalty thanks to his use of premium materials and innovative designs.

The company expanded to offer bespoke fitted furniture to corporate and commercial clients and, by 1991, it had identified a niche in the domestic market offering luxury fitted furniture, offices and bedrooms in prime residential properties.

In 2010, further expansion saw the introduction of Neville Johnson Staircases and all of these businesses were eventually sold in multi-million-pound deals, a testament to Johnson’s relentless work ethic and ability to build successful businesses from the ground up. WIth the brand now owned by BHID, also home to Tom Howley, his name can still be seen across shops and vans to this day.

Through his advisory roles in other KBB companies, Johnson continued to advocate for industry growth and his entrepreneurial outlook never faded, even across different industries. He always loved cars, for example, even buying the last three Jensen Interceptors from the production line in 1974, and later in life he indulged that passion by becoming a classic car dealer.

Retiring at the age of 73, he had a truly remarkable and transformational impact on the KBB sector. As an employer, mentor, advisor and through his extensive industry connections, he kickstarted hundreds, if not thousands, of people’s careers.

From CEOs and national housebuilders to independent kitchen designers and installers, the family has been inundated by an outpouring of messages of gratitude and appreciation from the industry to the man who gave them all a chance.

His shrewd business mindset was matched by his generosity. A quietly charitable man, he was always willing to help those most in need. A philanthropist at heart, his charitable giving and work for various foundations and charities spread far and wide.

A family man through and through, Johnson was born and raised in Blackpool by his parents, Millie and Sydney Johnson, attending the nearby boarding school, Rossall. He moved to Manchester in the late 1960s after he married his first wife Sandra. They had two children, Shelly and Stephen. Following the tragic death of Sandra, he married Sue and had a third child, Richard. He is survived by his wife Sue, three children and four grandchildren.

The industry has lost one of its giants but his legacy lives on in the individual lives and businesses he touched.