James Hacking, former Everton FC director and Sun Valley Chairman, dies

Feb 2 2011 by Emily Gosden, Bromborough and Bebington News

WIRRAL entrepreneur James Hacking, who served alongside John Moores and Harry Catterick on the board of Everton FC in its heydey, has died.

The family of Mr Hacking, who was known as Jim, last night paid tribute to a “wonderful businessman, sportsman and a marvellous family man.”

Mr Hacking founded his nut snack products business, Sun Valley, in 1949 on Price Street, Birkenhead. With his wife Gladys he built a successful firm that now employs 150 people.

He kept working at Sun Valley’s Bromborough factory in his final months and was Chairman until his death, aged 90, on January 23.

Mr and Mrs Hacking had been together for more than 60 years and had five children and eight grandchildren. They were due to celebrate their Diamond Wedding in May.

Mr Hacking’s daughter, Frances Street, said: “He was the heart and soul of the family and we are going to miss him enormously.

"He was gentle and kind, he was generous, he loved telling jokes and meeting people. Being a Lancastrian through and through, he would always call a spade a spade.”

Born in Darwen, he grew up in Lytham St Anne's, where his parents ran a small boarding house.

Mr Hacking served in the RAF in Egypt during World War Two, as an Airman 1st Class engineer. He moved to the Wirral to found Sun Valley and had lived in Caldy for decades.

Mrs Street said: “He started with nothing after the war. He and Mum built it up from scratch. He was a self-made man with very humble beginnings. He was a man of the people - modest, with no airs and graces.”

He was invited to join Everton FC’s board and in 1970 was pictured in the Daily Express as Vice-Chairman of “the most dynamic board of directors in soccer”. Mrs Street said: “That was at the time of people like Alan Ball.

“He would go abroad and travel with the team. He always loved football and the whole family are Evertonians. We were going to Everton together up until a couple of months ago.”

Mr Hacking was also a keen golfer and sports car driver. His daughter said: “He loved racing cars - he raced at Aintree and Silverstone and enjoyed some success in that - we have the cups at home.

“When he stopped racing he still maintained a fabulous interest in motorcars. He was driving right to the end. He had a wonderful array of cars - he had a passion for Porsches.”

He was a successful racehorse owner and breeder and also loved flying. He had his own plane and in 1967 featured in the Liverpool Echo after landing a stricken aircraft in a tiny hayfield in the Scottish hills.

Mr Hacking’s family are planning a celebration of his life and ask for any donations go to St John’s Hospice.