COLIN Frizzell, former chairman of Poole-based insurance and financial services firm Frizzell Group, died on May 20, aged 76.

Under Mr Frizzell's leadership the company, a family business founded in 1923 as a general insurance brokerage, diversified into banking and financial advice.

In particular it specialised in providing bulk insurance to trades unions and social clubs, and the Civil Service Motoring Association.

During the 1980s and 90s it was one of the town's largest private employers with more than 1,600 staff on its payroll, and at the time of its sale in 1992 Frizzell was the UK's largest privately-controlled insurance group.

Such was its success and prominence within Bournemouth and Poole that the nearby road system was commonly dubbed the 'Frizzell roundabout', and the wider insurance industry also benefitted greatly from its example.

Mr Fizzell did much to involve the company with community causes, supporting a huge number of charities with financial contributions, and getting staff involved with fundraising events.

The company would also sponsor AFC Bournemouth for several years, which saw the team's black and red strip temporarily sport additional thin white lines.

After weathering the recession of the early 1990s, Mr Frizzell sold the group to US insurance giant Marsh McLennan for £107 million, a move which made the family one of the 200 richest in the UK.

He remained in the role of chairman, but in 1996 the company was sold again to present owner LV=, for a total of £188 million.

Mr Frizzell, who was born in 1939, was an avid golfer and a member of Lloyd’s Golf Club, a club associated with Lloyds of London. He had served the club as Captain and President, and was also a member of the prestigious Swinley Forest Golf Club, the Senior’s Golfing Society and St Andrews.

He and his wife Anna, who retired to Berkshire, set up a charitable trust to help various causes.