Jack Lunn’s early offices under the arches in Stanningley.
Jack Lunn up on the scaffolding, aged 80, in 1993.
Topping Out Ceremony in 1972 - Jack Lunn (right) hands over the silver trowel to Norman Hudson, Chairman of Bradford & Northern Housing Association.
Three generations of the Lunn family, left to right - Roy Lunn, Jack Lunn and Andrew Lunn.
Left to right - Andrew Lunn, Graham Lunn, Roy Lunn, Tim Edlin, Maurice Reynard and Jack Lunn.
Born in Leeds in 1912, Jack Lunn studied carpentry and allied Technical Drawing and became an apprentice in joinery. He continued his studies at the Leeds College of Art and advanced in Cabinet Making and Technical Drawing. Several pieces of furniture made by Jack can be seen on display in the company’s head office today.
In 1940 Jack was asked by his father-in-law to join his business ‘Cripwell & Shaw’, a building company in Stanningley. Whilst working, Jack completed his studies in Building Construction via a correspondence course.
In 1949 Jack started his own business. With his business partner, he worked hard to progress the business. He had excellent business acumen, a pleasant, friendly personality, always fair and straight. He quickly gained a good reputation in the area, and allied trades were keen to work with him. He soon needed larger premises and in 1964 bought a property on Bradford Road in Pudsey which accommodated the joinery works with offices and plenty of parking as well as a builder’s yard. Jack named it ‘Progress House’ and that is where our well established group of companies is today.
In 1980 the business was re-structured and updated and later Jack Lunn & Company Limited was re-named Jack Lunn (Construction) Limited, to more accurately describe its activities; which was in turn to lead to the formation of the Jack Lunn Group of Companies.
In the early days, Jack Lunn & Company Limited built mainly houses. Then became involved in Property Development and Investment, there was also an established Joinery Division and more recently the formation of Lunn Healthcare Facilities Limited, which develops and retains Primary Care Medical Centres.
Over the years Jack’s three sons joined the company, each with their own area of expertise to contribute to the success of the business. Brothers, Roy, Derek and Graham joined the Board of Directors, each bringing their individual skills to a different division of the firm, with their father, Jack Lunn its founder and Chairman. Our current Chairman, Graham Lunn, developed the property company which has grown considerably.
Later, Jack’s grandsons were to join the firm and today Andrew Lunn is a very active Director on the construction side.
Jack had a commitment to using local labour along with the company’s own workforce, and this tradition remains in the company today. To Jack, problems were challenges which were there to be solved. He had an amazing determination and drive towards delivering successful finished results.
Many of the professional firms and sub-contractors with whom the Group continues to work with today, are firms who have had a long-term association with us and whose founding members were starting up in business around the same time and knew Jack Lunn personally. Over the years, the construction company has received many awards in recognition for the quality of workmanship and the Jack Lunn name and reputation is trusted throughout the building industry.
Jack lived a full and active life and built a very sound building and property company. He was a character with great vision and energy.
Outside of the business Jack Lunn had many interests. A life-long Rugby fan, he was Chairman of Hunslet Amateur Rugby League Club (Parkside) and a Director of Hunslet Hawks Rugby League Club. He enjoyed all sports and along with regular trips to Wembley for the RL Challenge Cup Final, he also enjoyed days at Headingley watching Yorkshire Test Cricket, as well as taking interest in, and giving financial support to, local and youth sports teams. A proud Yorkshireman, he led by example, he was hard working and disciplined, trustworthy and honest. He passed away in harness in February 1998.
The Jack Lunn Group remains successful to the present day with his sons and grandsons as Shareholders and Directors, all striving to continue the strong traditions and values that Jack Lunn built the business upon, whilst looking to the future and embracing new opportunities.