Yesterday I was privileged to attend a memorial service for the late, great John Crosfield.

Many tributes, both moving and amusing, were paid to this extraordinary individual, who truly was a man of many talents.

He had vision and belief in his ideas. There was a great tale about him inventing acoustic mines during his work for the navy in World War II, despite being instructed by his superior to work on a different device. He kept at it because he knew acoustic mines would be more effective, and he was right.

Former Crosfield managing director Jim Salmon described Crosfield as a "talented and lucky man" - with the stand-out lucky moment being selling Crosfield to De La Rue just weeks before the 1974 oil crisis hit, reducing the company's order backlog from 18 months to two at a stroke. "Without De La Rue behind us Crosfield would have been finished," Salmon stated.

Crosfield was generous with his time and his wealth, and gave away the fruits of his success to family, friends, charities and people in need.

He knew the value of brand ambassadors long before the term was coined. Apprentices came from all over the world to work at Crosfield, and then went on to champion the firm's products across the globe.

His granddaughter described him as being an inspiration in "how to live life fearlessly" - when his lab was destroyed during the war, he managed to see the funny side in the remnants, and picked himself up and started again. "When life falls apart, use a bit of humour and rebuild". He always saw the positive side of things, rather than dwelling on negatives.

He was friendly and interested in everything and everybody - compare and contrast with some modern-day rule by fear executives.

It called to mind the "What would Steve Jobs do?" book about another celebrated leader.

We in print could usefully add a "what would John Crosfield do?" pause for consideration. His heyday may have been in the last century, but his ethos provides enduring inspiration.