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Jimi Heselden: The tycoon who gave a fortune to the community
Just days ago, Jimi Heselden wrote his last bumper cheque to help the disadvantaged people of Leeds.
He handed over 10m to the Leeds Community Foundation for the second time, bringing his total charitable donations to 23m.
* CLICK HERE TO READ AND LEAVE TRIBUTES TO JIMI.
This latest giving, through the Hesco Bastion Fund, made him the largest single donor to any of the 57 community foundations across the UK.
In the last two years, the foundation had supported a network of groups helping elderly people in Belle Isle, Burmantofts, Cross Gates,
Middleton, Seacroft, Swarcliffe, Gipton, Halton Moor and Ebor Gardens.
Another beneficiary was Gipton Juniors FC which works with more than 150 young people. Its rapid growth had increased demand for new kit, equipment and coaching expertise, and a 10,000 grant from the Hesco fund was a real lifeline.
Two years ago, Jimi's wife Julie placed the winning bid of 1.5m to fly nine people with the Red Arrows display team.
The money went to the charity Help for Heroes which supports injured servicemen and women. A spokesman for the RAF said at the time: "We are astounded that someone could be so generous."
Closer to home, Hesco funded Leeds City Council's gold-winning garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. It was modelled on a section of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal complete with full-sized lock gates as the centrepiece.
Former council leader Andrew Carter said: "Without Hesco Bastion we couldn't have done it because they foot the bills."
Jimi Hesleden came from a humble background in east Leeds and once said that, having become rich, he had a moral obligation to help others less fortunate.
"Life has turned out pretty well for me," he said, "but I still work in the same area where I grew up and every day I see people who for whatever reason are down on their luck.
"My business has done well in recent years and I believe that if someone makes it in business they should give something back. I have chosen to give some of my money to the people and places that are significant in my life.
"I was born and brought up in Halton and my company, Hesco Bastion, is based in south Leeds, so I feel a very strong connection to that part of the city. I really enjoy supporting local projects where quite modest donations can have a big impact."
Jimi Heselden was ranked 261 in the 2009 Rich List, with estimated wealth of 214m – up 9m from the previous year.
He took a 25m salary from Hesco Bastion which made a record 31m profit.
The firm, which is based in Cross Green, makes and exports Concertainer units (or blast walls) which are used for military fortification and flood defences.
Forces such as the UK and US armies, Nato and the UN have used the rapidly-deployable barriers to protect troops in every major conflict area since the 1991 Gulf War.
Hesco barriers are said to be used in nearly all the US Army bases in Iraq and are also found on Nato bases in Afghanistan.
The Concertainer units have been marketed as the most significant development in field fortification since the Second World War. Once erected, they are filled with locally available materials.
They are regarded as a faster and safer alternative to the sandbag and are used to protect people, vehicles, equipment and other critical assets. They are able to withstand attacks from a wide variety of weapons.
Most recently. Hesco's product has been used to hold back the oil spill off the American coast.
Jimi Heselden left school at 15 and worked at Temple Newsam and Lofthouse coal mines before setting up his own company with a friend.
His firm worked at sandblasting buildings and metal structures such as oil rigs and 20 years ago diversified into making the bastion wire cages which turned Mr Heselden into a multi-millionaire.
Last year he bought the American company Segway which makes two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicles, used by personalities including Lembit Opik, the former Liberal Democrat MP.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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