Tributes have come in from across East Anglian football and beyond, including from local rivals Ipswich Town, following the death of former Norwich City majority shareholder, editor and publisher Michael Wynn Jones at the age of 85.

Norwich City announced on Monday afternoon that Mr Wynn Jones, the husband of celebrity cookery writer and television presenter Delia Smith, passed away peacefully at his home earlier that morning.

In a statement published on the club's website, representatives said: “He will be greatly missed.” The announcement also expressed gratitude to the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, adding: “Our deepest condolences are with Delia and Tom, and with all of Michael’s family, friends and loved ones. At the family’s request, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

Ipswich Town offered their respects shortly after the news broke, stating: “We send our condolences to Delia and Tom, all of Michael’s family and friends, and everyone at Norwich City at this time. Rest in peace, Michael.”

Former Norwich players have also paid tribute. Darren Eadie described Mr Wynn Jones as “a kind and caring gentleman”, while former forward Darren Huckerby wrote on X: “Such sad news, he stayed out of the limelight but all at [the club] owe him so much.”

Born in Wales to parents who worked as a Church of England vicar and a teacher, Mr Wynn Jones studied at the University of Oxford before building a career across the British magazine industry. He served as deputy editor of The Spectator and Mirror Magazine, the Daily Mirror's supplement, where he was working when the title hired Delia Smith as a cookery writer in 1969. He later established New Crane Publishing, producing several of his wife's best-selling cookery books.

The couple married in Stowmarket in 1971 and lived near the Suffolk town throughout their marriage. They became central figures in regional sport after becoming joint majority shareholders of Norwich City in 1997, investing millions into the club and overseeing multiple promotions to the Premier League.

We previously reported that their leadership concluded earlier in 2024; the handover saw them step down as majority shareholders in October 2024 before reducing their stake to 10 per cent, with American investor Mark Attanasio's group, FB Norfolk Holdings, acquiring an 85 per cent controlling share. Both Mr Wynn Jones and Delia Smith subsequently took up roles as honorary life presidents.

Details regarding memorial arrangements and planned club commemorations have not yet been announced. I'll be tracking this story — check back for further updates.