HUNDREDS paid tribute at a funeral service for Alderley business tycoon and horse racing millionaire Tim Kilroe who has died, aged 64.

His wife, Loretta, and sons, John, Tim, Barry, Martin and Paul, were joined by associates and friends from the world of sport and business who turned out to mark the end of the life of an admired and respected entrepreneur.

Born in a rural farming community in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1939 he came to Manchester aged 15 taking his first job at the Dunlop factory making Wellington boots.

But by 1968 he had set up his own firm in the construction industry along with his wife and the business, T and AM Kilroe, grew rapidly and evolved into a successful limited company. In 1992 the Kilroe group employed more than 1000 employees and had a turnover of more than £100 million.

With increasing contracts across the north west he later bought his own aircraft to visit sites and the seeds of his next project, Air Kilroe, were born.

The airline expanded to become a charter and scheduled service provider and at the time of its sale to Eastern Airways the company operated eight aircraft.

Tim never forgot his Irish roots and invested in the land of his birth buying Galway based Aer Arran, a regional air service flying from Galway to the Arran Islands.

In 1977 he bought a derelict farm at Hale Barns next to the M56, initially to develop as a family home. However he converted the barn into a restaurant and later into a 154 bedroom hotel, the Four Seasons, which became a popular celebrity night spot. It was sold to the Marriott group in 1999.

A passion for horse racing all his life Tim owned and bred many winners. The pride of his career was in 1985 when Forgive and Forget won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

During his later years he bred more than 40 racehorses at his farm in Alderley Edge, 25 of which went on to become winners.

His death followed a brave fight against cancer and during his illness he set up a foundation to raise money or cancer charities.

The funeral service at Our Lady and St John RC Church, Chorlton-cum-Hardy was followed by burial at Alderley Edge cemetery.