Mr Silver was in charge of the club when the won the league title in 1992. The club’s official Twitter account tweeted a message saying: “We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing away of former chairman Leslie Silver today. Our thoughts are with his family & friends.” He joined the board of Leeds United in 1981, becoming chairman in 1983, a post he held until 1996. During his time as chairman of Leeds United, the club won promotion from the Second to the First Division - now known as the Premier League - and won the top-flight league title in 1992. As well as being the club’s chairman he served as chancellor of Leeds Beckett University. A building on the campus is named after him.
Silver's family moved to Leeds in 1940 and in 1943 he joined the RAF, for the remainder of the war serving operationally in Europe and the Far East. He was the founder of Silver Paint and Lacquer, later known as Kalon Group PLC, from which he retired in 1991. Silver volunteered for the RAF in 1943 at the age of 17. After training as aircrew, he joined Bomber Command in February 1944 as a flight engineer. He flew the full quota of 250 operational hours with 138, 161, 291 and 356 Squadrons, consisting of more than 40 operations in Europe and 20 in the Far East. In the Far East, missions included dropping supplies into Changi gaol. Silver left the RAF in 1947, aged 22. In 2013, at the age of 88, he was awarded the Bomber Command Clasp. After the war Silver returned to Leeds and went into business, laying the foundation for his life’s work, the highly successful Leyland Paints company, which began in 1947 as the Silver Paint and Lacquer Company Limited. Silver founded the Silver Paint and Lacquer Co.—SPL, as it became known—in 1947 when he left the RAF. Using his gratuity and a loan, Silver manufactured nitrocellulose thinners, mainly for the car industry. In the 1950s the product range was extended to include decorative paint products. Initially SPL was based in Leeds, but by the 1960s the factory lacked sufficient space and in 1963 moved to larger premises in Batley. In 1976 and 1981 respectively the company took over the Leeds Paint Manufacturing Company and Bestobell Paints. In 1982 the company was renamed Kalon. The word is derived from Greek and means "for the greater good". In 1982 Leslie was awarded the Order of the British Empire and named Yorkshire Businessman of the Year in 1983. During his long service in the paint industry, he held national office as: President of the Oil and Colour Chemists Association (1973-5) President of the Paint Industries Club (1978-9) President of the Paintmakers Association of Great Britain Limited (1979–80) President of the Paint Research Association (1981-2) It was the first time any one individual had served as president of the four associations relating to the surface coating industry. In 1983 the company moved again, this time from Batley to the much larger (and current) premises off Huddersfield Road in Birstall. In 1985, Kalon acquired Leyland Paints. The reverse takeover led to the flotation of Kalon on the London Stock Exchange and the formation of Kalon Group PLC. Since June 1998, Silver has been a director of Fifth Argyll Ltd. a Harrogate-based property company. Silver joined the board of Leeds United A.F.C. in 1981, becoming chairman in 1983, a post he held until 1996. During his time as chairman of Leeds United, the club won promotion from the Second to the First Division - now known as the Premier League - and won the top-flight league title in 1992. Leeds United remain the last team to win the top flight English football title with an English manager, Howard Wilkinson. Silver keeps his hand in as President of Harrogate Football Club and Honorary President of amateur club Garforth A.F.C. In addition to his support of the University over more than twenty years, Leslie is an active patron of many other charities.
He once got me into the directors box to watch us against Liverpool. I had lost my money to get in the Kop. He then arranged me a taxi home as I had also lost my train ticket. Was before 81 though. I think 1978 they won 3-0 and won the title, scoring 100 goal and setting the record points haul under two points for a win. RIP
60 would know better than me. But him and Manny Cousins were very much stereo typical Jewish businessmen. By all accounts. My mum knew Mr Silver for many years, she used to work for him.
Nope, she was a cleaner/waitress/secretary in the 60s and 70s. What she did for him I don't actually know. Keep it clean boys.
Not old enough to remember, but I seem to think he was part of the leeds set up for donkeys years before 81... Words you don't hear much...... 60 come on tell us all about it.
Met Leslie and his wife at Scunthorpe in a cup replay , when I went as a guest to Allan Clarke, the Scunthorpe manager at the time Bremner was the Leeds boss Mick Jones sat next to me He was a very fair chairman in my opinion but he didnt have things easy at first the fans wanted him out and made their feelings Known .His luck changed when he put Chippy in the directors box and made Wilko the manager .Who would have thought that in such a short space of time he would have changed the fortunes of the club His only blemish was to appoint Fotherby who I couldnt stand
Isn't that strange. Thanks to old lady Rakusson Alan Clark let me have two tickets for the directors box at Barnsley when he was manager there and we played them....
Before he became Chiarman he had a large compnay on Bradford road Batley making paint to sell primarily at Woolworths it was a much cheaper product than Dulux but served its purpose Amazing Chippy you mentioning Rakusens the bisciut people because my wifes Auntie was nanny to Caro who went on to marry Trevor Guy and Myra a small world heh! Leslies second wife the one I met was called Anita and apparently she looked like Liz Taylor
I knew Trevor Guy when he lived on Abbey Road in Knaresborough... He was always sailing close to the wind. Do you remember when he bought the Butlibs site at Filey? He did time for a flanker he pulled there didn't he? What was the other bloke called who was forging gold coins, lived on Alwoodley Lane in the big house with the jacuzzi in the hallway. It came with hot and cold running blonde beauties.
Harvey Ross I think you are referring to he had alsorts of scams going on and was given lots of money to invest by people who didnt want the revenue to know about there private stash he disappeared Guy did buy Butlins and got millions of deposits from holiday makers then went bust convicted latter for stripping lead from a church
Harvey Ross thats him... Did some work for him... What a house! He paid in cash! I used spend half my life working around the Sandmoors , Bracken Park and occasionally roughing it on the Congreaves....
Did you mean burglar? That would be a bit rich from a bloke who as Ristac pointed out yesterday steals the thoughts of other and pretends they are his own. #plagurist.
