A WELL-known businessman in the Yorkshire agricultural community has died aged 67 after a short illness.

Keith Drake was the fifth generation to head the well-known family firm of corn millers and agricultural merchants Samuel Drake and Son Ltd, founded in 1823 in Honley by his great-great-grandfather.

From the early days it was a Honley landmark, with the corn mill and imposing grocery and general stores situated in Westgate, and the company’s agricultural merchant premises, which are still located on the site of the original water mill, the oldest mill in Honley.

The grocery was eventually sold and the company changed its name to Keith Drake Ltd.

Keith was educated at the Leys School, Cambridge before joining the family firm.

When his father, Arthur Drake, died Keith, then in his 20s, was thrust into taking charge of the business – not without some trepidation. However, in his usual calm, unassuming manner, and with the help of his wife, Susan, he rose to the challenge and led the company through a particularly difficult trading period.

He also expanded the company’s activities by developing specialist feeds for markets as racing pigeons and horses, becoming a supplier to the famous Whittaker show-jumping family.

In 1992 Keith’s daughter, Lisa, married Michael Bridge who was already working for Keith Drake Ltd; and when Keith retired Lisa and Michael continued to run the family firm. Keith was a member of the Round Table and became actively involved with the Home Farm Trust, a charitable organisation which had established small working communities offering permanent homes to young people with severe disabilities.

His hobbies included dinghy sailing, gardening and a love of vintage cars, as well as go-karting and rally driving. He was a well-known face at the meetings of the Huddersfield Motor Club and later the Vintage Sports Car Club.

He married his childhood sweetheart Susan Jagger in 1965 and they had two children, Peter, who died aged 21, and Lisa. He is survived by them and his two grandchildren, Molly and Louie and his sister, Susan.