He was known as 'Mr Norwich City' for his crucial role in saving the football club from bankruptcy.
And the remarkable legacy of former Canaries chairman and president Geoffrey Watling lives on beyond the Carrow Road pitch.
A charity he set up having hit the incredible milestone of handing out more than £11m in grants for good causes across Norfolk and Waveney.
Businessman Mr Watling took the helm of Norwich City Football Club in the 1950s and, during his 16-year chairmanship, he took them from financial uncertainty and the bottom of Division Three South to the top flight.
He came to the club's aid again in 1996 when, as president, he bought previous chairman Robert Chase's shares - paving the way for a new board.
Mr Watling started off running his father Charles's family carriers business, but ended up owning or being associated with more than 200 businesses.
They included businesses in the transport industry, coastal holiday activities, hotel and catering establishments, the boat hire business, fruit machine franchise, an industrial estate on Charles Watling Way.
He also owned and ran the Samson & Hercules nightclub and the Lido Ballroom in Aylsham Road.
But Mr Watling has also helped hundreds of charities and organisations across the region, thanks to a trust he set up after in 1993, following the death of his only child Carol the previous year.
The trust has given millions of pounds to good causes since then, with trustees meeting four times a year to agree which organisations should benefit.
When Mr Watling died in 2004, at the age of 91, the majority of his estate was bequeathed to the Geoffrey Watling Charity to continue the good work he started.
His nephew Alan Watling was a long-serving chairman of the trustees and stepped back from the role earlier this year.
He remains a trustee, but Alexandra Haswell has succeeded him as the chairman.
Mrs Haswell paid tribute to her predecessor's service for more than 20 years and said she looked forward to the charity continuing to offer financial support in future years to help sustain the valuable work done by charities.
Charities can find out whether they are eligible to apply for grants by visiting www.geoffreywatling.org.uk
A helping hand
Organisations which benefited from recent grants from the Geoffrey Watling Charity over the past six months include:
Nelson's Journey - to help deliver therapeutic weekends for bereaved children.
Sewell Barn Theatre in Norwich - for electrical improvements and rewiring of the theatre.
Baby Basics in Lowestoft - help with relocation to larger premises to expand the service.
Cloth of Kindness - working with Norfolk Libraries in rural locations to deliver well-being sewing sessions.
Nancy Oldfield Trust - to replace an old quay heading and walkway decking surrounding a slipway.
NARS (Norfolk Accident Rescue Service) - to invest in improved facilities at the medical training centre.
Sr Mary's Church in Wimbotsham - repair and replacement of the chancel roof.
St Mary's Church, Holme-next-the-Sea - for the tower restoration and repair project.
The Salvation Army - to help provide a summer school for children and young people aged 11 to 25.
Equal Lives - to assist the charity in supporting disabled parents through child protection processes.
St Bartholomew's Church, Brisley - a grant for the restoration and repair of a rare 14th century rood screen.
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