TRIBUTES have been paid to Lord Arnold Weinstock, former chairman of General Electric Company and the man associated with shaping modern-day Swindon.

The 77-year-old died at his home in Lacock on Tuesday.

Nigel Carter, policy advisor with Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said: "Lord Weinstock's name first came to the public's attention more than 30 years ago when he became a very young chairman of GEC.

"He subsequently elevated it to one of the UK's leading manufacturing organisations. Maintaining this status brought detractors in regard to his often autocratic and ruthless style but he is remembered favourably by many who worked with him for his insightfulness in positioning his company to advantage during the late 70s and 80s.

"The subsequent reversal in fortunes of associated companies such as Marconi was unfortunate, but has not dimmed the memory of one of industry's most powerful and iconic leaders."

Lord Weinstock transformed GEC into one of Britain's most successful post-war industrial groups and retired in 1996, having built a giant manufacturing empire in a 33-year reign that saw the company's annual profits rocket from £4 million to about £980 million.

Former Tory cabinet minister and fellow industrialist Lord Prior said: "He was an outstanding post-war industrialist, perhaps the most outstanding.

"He had a brilliant mind and he did a great deal to help regenerate British industry, particularly the electrical industry.

"He was a man of many parts, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of music and if he had not been a great industrialist, he could have been a very considerable music critic and perhaps even a conductor."

Outside the world of work, Lord Weinstock had a keen interest in racing, owning horses with his late father-in-law Sir Michael Sobell and son Simon, who died in 1996, aged 44.

Willie Carson, five times champion jockey and chairman of Swindon Football Club, rode successfully for Lord Weinstock from 1977.

Mr Carson said yesterday: "He was a captain of industry. He loved his racing and he loved his horses.

"It really revved him up, especially seeing a good horse."