Melton family hotel founder passes away aged 90

He was also a founder member of Melton and Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) and was passionate about the need to reopen the local former canal network.

After suffering from heart problems, Richard died at the Leicester Royal Infirmary on November 17.

Born in Birmingham, he married Stella and the couple moved to Melton in 1965, to a four-bed house on Asfordby Road called Sysonby Knoll.

It was initially intended as just a family home with Richard employed full-time as an engineer and consultant.

But the couple became aware that people working at the town’s Pera complex had booked rooms there before the house was sold and they decided to carry on doing it.

Richard’s daughter, Jenny, who has run the family business with husband Gavin since 1996, told the Melton Times: “The phone kept ringing when mum and dad moved in and they asked, ‘well can’t you carry on doing it’.

“She started doing bed and breakfasts based on people ringing up, having stayed there before, and it kind of blossomed.

“Mother was front of house and dad was working full-time as an engineer and consultant but at weekends he was doing the planning and electrics as the building work was going on and the house was being extended.

“The hotel slowly grew and they were a great team with her out the front and him behind the scenes.”

The building, which dates back from 1911, is now a three-star hotel with 30 bedrooms and has a restaurant, and is open at present in accordance with Covid restrictions.

The couple enjoyed going out on their narrow boat for short holidays in their leisure time.

“They would go narrow boating as their escape from this place,” said Jenny.

“That’s how he got involved with starting the waterways society and dad designed and built a dredger which they still use to clean the river in Melton.”

Sadly, Stella passed away in 1996 aged just 59, after suffering from cancer, and Jenny became involved full-time in the business shortly afterwards.

Richard eventually met and married his second wife, Elizabeth, and they continued to live at the hotel.

As well as Jenny, he leaves another daughter Pippa, a son, Nigel, and grandchildren, James, Zoe and Oscar.

Jenny added: “Dad was quite a quiet man but he was very hard-working and driven.

“He worked incredibly hard, both at the hotel and in his full-time job.

“His work as an engineer paid for the building of the hotel because it would never have made enough money as a B&B to expand itself.

“He was never a typical hotelier, so he left that side of the business to mum, but his general acumen was exceptional and we will miss his help and advice.”

A funeral service will be held at Loughborough Crematorium, at 11am on December 10.

Only 30 mourners can attend due to coronavirus restrictions - call Richard Barnes Funeral Directors on 01664 565311 if you would like to attend.