WALTER Scott, known as John, was an entrepreneur who died peacefully at home in Poole after a short illness, aged 91.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues in the motor trade and caravan industry.

Born in Leicestershire in 1923, Mr Scott qualified as an engineer after leaving school and served in the Second World War as a mechanical engineer.

He rarely spoke about what he did during the war, except to say he had to sign the Official Secrets Act five times, and he did once mention a trip to Coventry to assist with a radar system for the US army.

Mr Scott also helped design the system used by battleships to keep their guns steady in rough seas.

After the war, he set up business with three of his brothers in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, servicing and selling cars and war surplus vehicles.

Scott Brothers of Leicester, and later Stoneygate Garage, became well known in the East Midlands for selling new and used cars and commercial vehicles and later moved into the car and van hire sector as well.

Soon the brothers expanded their business interests to include outlets in the Channel Islands.

Mr Scott opened his first caravan sales business in the 1960s and was involved in the industry from then until his retirement in 1988, and then beyond until his death in January this year.

He was a Fellow of the Institute of the Motor Industry and the Institute of Directors, and served as chairman of the Motor Agents Association for Leicestershire and the East Midlands.

Mr Scott was a keen sailor and kept a boat in Poole Harbour, and had also learned to fly in his younger years, something he greatly enjoyed.

His three children, Andrew, Wendy and Zealony, all followed their father’s example by going into business.

Zealony and her husband have had a number of companies and live in Poole, while Andrew went into partnership with Wendy’s husband Paul Clarke in 1978.

They formed “The Caravan Company” which has branches in Dorset, Northamptonshire and Berkshire.

In his later years Mr Scott senior would help his son by collecting caravans for the business.

He celebrated his 90th birthday with 90 members of his family in 2013, and his Diamond Wedding Anniversary with his wife Valerie last year.

She survives him, along with their children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held in Poole on January 21.