THEY came from every walk of life to honour a remarkable man, a remarkable Yorkshireman.

And it was easy to imagine James Hanson looking on and nodding approval at his memorial service which attracted hundreds to a beautiful London church.

Lord Hanson, the Huddersfield-born tycoon, died last December aged 82. But yesterday there were no tears, no solemnity, no sense of grief as family, friends and sometime enemies paid tribute.

Just happy and humorous memories to share.

From the world of politics were the likes of Baroness Thatcher and former Home Secretary Kenneth Baker. From TV and show business, Sir David Frost and lifelong friend Michael Caine.

And from the business world Hanson dominated, countless captains of industry.

But there too, in the spring sunlight piercing the gloom of St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge, were what Lord Palumbo referred to in his eloquent address as "the ordinary people, the ones James admired".

People like Peter Roe, managing director of Hanson Logistics, the Hanson company still in the peer's home town.

And Mrs Joan Murphy, of Paddock, who belied her 81 years with a wit and a charm that had captivated Hanson all those years ago.

For 17 years, she was his secretary and loved every minute of her life with him.

Her story typified the man. Despite his business deals reaping millions, Hanson never forgot those who had helped him.

And when Mrs Murphy lost her beloved pet dog a year ago, it was Hanson who was on the phone to Peter Roe, organising a replacement.

"He was a wonderful man, both as an employer and a friend," said Mrs Murphy.

"He arranged for me to get my new dog, Poppy, and never forgot anyone who had worked for Hanson.

"It has been a lovely service and everything people said about him was true."

Robert Hanson, one of the peer's two sons, was visibly moved by many of the tributes. He mingled with guests in the opulent splendour of the Berkeley Hotel after the service and said: "It was wonderful, a fitting and moving tribute."

Fitting it was.

The service was held in a church just a few, brisk Lord Hanson strides from the penthouse office overlooking Hyde Park where he spent many years.

And those who took part shared, for an hour or two on a cold spring day, some treasured memories.

BARONESS Thatcher led a congregation of politicians, power-brokers and celebrities at a memorial service for Huddersfield-born Lord Hanson.

The great, the good and the controversial gathered at St Paul's Church in London's Knightsbridge for a thanksgiving service honouring the business tycoon who died of cancer in November.

Oscar-winner Sir Michael Caine, who had known Lord Hanson for 45 years, said: "I always knew him in the fun side of things.

"I have quite a different picture of him than his rivals. He was a competitor. We were always champagne and restaurants. He was a smashing guy."

The 82-year-old founder of the Hanson group, an £11bn conglomerate spanning everything from tobacco and energy to bricks and batteries, died at his home in Newbury, Berkshire. His son Robert was at his side.

He was born James Edward Hanson in Edgerton in 1922.

Brilliant, ruthless and fiercely outspoken, Lord Hanson's domination of the corporate world epitomised the capitalist excesses of the Thatcher years.

A favourite of the former Prime Minister, and an enthusiastic contributor to the party, he was one of the most feared asset-strippers on either side of the Atlantic.

Former Home Secretary Lord Baker said after the service: "James changed everything. He left a considerable memorial and was a great figure of the 80s.

"Lots of successful business people here today came as a result of what he did.

"He was a very disciplined man. He liked form and occasion and this service was very fitting because this had both form and occasion."

Among those at the service were Lord Palumbo, Lucas White and his wife Normandie Keith, Susan Sangster, Lord Rothschild, Claus von Bulow, Ned Sherrin, Anthony Andrews, Lord Rees-Mogg, Richard Whiteley and gallery director Timothy Jefferies.

Former politicians Lord Archer and Jonathan Aitken also attended.

The Earls of Halifax, Liverpool and Westmorland were there, along with the Marquess of Salisbury.

Born to a wealthy businessman from Huddersfield, James Hanson was a playboy turned multi-millionaire businessman and family man.

He led a glamorous life including a brief engagement to Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn before marrying US divorcee Geraldine Kaelin in 1959.

She died of leukaemia in February last year.

The first lesson was read by Lucas White, son of his close friend and ally Lord Gordon White with whom he set up Hanson in 1964.

The second was read by Sir David Frost, who later said: "James was as good a friend as you could wish to have.

"He was always incredibly busy but he always had time for his family and his friends."

The reading quoted Theodore Roosevelt about the valiance of struggling to achieve, stating that those who step forward "shall never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat".

The address was read by Lord Palumbo.

After the proceedings Richard Whiteley said: "The service captured the essence of his life. His life touched so many elements from business, his Yorkshireness, his charity, his concern for his fellow people, his calm, his internationalism, his skill, wit and his honesty.

"He was a great Yorkshireman. I am a Yorkshireman and certainly he was one of the great Yorkshiremen."

Over 30 years Hanson plc was built into a multi-national conglomerate employing 90,000 people.

With Lord White he earned the reputation as a "corporate raider", spreading consternation in boardrooms across Britain and the US. In the 1980s the name Hanson was a byword for all that was go-getting in British business.

It engaged in one of the most vicious takeover battles, against Imperial Tobacco in 1986 which, with the takeover of US company SCM, was one of its greatest acquisitions.

But when the unwieldy giant fell out of favour with investors in 1996 Lord Hanson, whose personal fortune was estimated at £100m, decided to split it into four companies - Energy Group, Millennium Chemicals, Imperial Tobacco and Hanson plc.

The announcement was hailed as the end of an era and Lord Hanson retired the following year.

He was made a life peer in 1983 and is survived by sons Robert and Brook and stepdaughter Karyn.