Lord Joel Joffe, who founded the insurance company Allied Dunbar, also known as Swindon-headquartered Hambro Life Assurance, has passed away at the age of 85.
The South African-born British lawyer died at his home in Liddington surrounded by his family following a short illness, according to a report by This Is Wiltshire.
“Lord Joffe was an extraordinary man who had an incredible zest for life. He was passionate about Swindon and did an enormous amount of good work for local causes, while also being a real champion for the town,” Councillor David Renard was quoted as saying.
The report said the former Oxfam chair, who defended Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial in the 1960s, was an avid campaigner for terminally ill people and was also the patron of many Swindon and Wiltshire charities.
“He was a lovely man and someone I am proud to call a true gentleman. He was passionate about communities and businesses working together and he was very supportive of the work we do at the station,” said Shirley Ludford, station manager of Swindon 105.5 community radio, in a heartfelt tribute.
Lord Joffe, who was a trustee of the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, will also be remembered “for his unique combination of razor sharp intellect and boundless generosity of spirit,” said a spokesman for the museum. “The wisdom and enthusiasm he brought to the Trust has been invaluable, and he will be sorely missed by us all.”
