Michael Wynn Jones, the husband of television cook Delia Smith and a former majority shareholder of Norwich City, has died aged 85.
Norwich announced that Wynn Jones died peacefully at home on Monday morning. He and Smith had held a majority stake in the club for 28 years.
“Everyone at Norwich City is deeply saddened by the passing of our honorary life president, Michael Wynn Jones,” the club said.
“Michael died peacefully at home on Monday morning, aged 85. He will be greatly missed.”
Wynn Jones and Smith stepped back from the Norwich board last year after agreeing a deal that reduced their holding in the club to 10 per cent. They subsequently became honorary life presidents.
The club said Wynn Jones’s family was grateful for the care provided by the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice.
“Our deepest condolences are with Delia and Tom, and with all of Michael’s family, friends and loved ones,” the statement added. “At the family’s request, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”
Wynn Jones married Smith in 1971 and the couple became majority shareholders in Norwich in 1998. During their ownership, the Canaries were promoted to the Premier League five times, including three occasions as Championship winners.
Norwich spent three seasons in the top flight between 2011-12 and 2013-14, although the club also suffered five Premier League relegations during Wynn Jones and Smith’s time in charge.
Outside football, Wynn Jones worked as an editor on magazines including Mirror Magazine and The Spectator. He also founded and chaired New Crane Publishing Ltd and wrote several books on biography and social history.
