MICK Maton, the man who did so much to improve the profile of the Prince’s Trust in Worcestershire, has died at the age of 84.

A former senior partner at accountants PKF (rebranded from Pannell Kerr Forster) he brought his business skills coupled with his humanity in dealing with people when he became chairman of the Trust in the 1990s and  soon developed an enviable reputation.

Stephen Paddock, a colleague on the Trust, said: “Mick had wisdom and knowledge and equally the discipline and process to follow try to get things right. He was a voice of reason and he approached the work of the Trust with the responsibility to give each young person the best opportunity to succeed.”

Mr Maton began mentoring in the early days of the Prince’s Trust - soon to be renamed the King’s Trust - in Worcestershire and enjoyed helping all the young hopefuls, many of whom had not had the best start in life. Often people who had been to prison or were reformed drug addicts, while others suffered disabilities.

In his subsequent position as chairman he went to many meetings and places with royal connections, including a guided tour of Highgrove House for him and his wife Gill by Prince Charles himself.

Michael Grant Maton was born in Birmingham and after school and A levels he began as a trainee accountant with Stanley in Birmingham, qualifying in 1961. He then moved to Gloucester with Andrew Barr and that firm took over Tansley Witt in Worcester. Eventually PKF, which had offices in Droitwich, joined TW in Worcester at Virginia House in High Street.  PKF the relocated to Birmingham in 2004 and Mr Maton moved with them.

His professionalism attracted a wide range of clients over many years and enabled his firm to evolve into a respected service provider with staff who developed their own careers under his tutelage.

One client a highly profitable carpet maker bought Puckrup Hall at Twyning, near Tewkesbury and converted it into a golf course complex before selling to international operators. This client also and most unusually transferred his business ownership to his staff so that they could own their employment company.

Handling these high profile transactions allowed him to demonstrate his talents at project management of paperwork and of people to achieve the clients objectives. Skills he brought to his role with the Prince’s Trust.

Mick Maton, who lived in Westmancote, near Bredon, leaves wife Gill, son Anthony, daughter Sue and four grandchildren, Polly, Sam, Lara and Milly.

The family are hosting a celebration of his life at Deer Park Hall, Woollas Farm, near Eckington at 3pm on Friday, April 26, and will welcome his friends and colleagues and look forward to sharing stories and to raising a glass.