Born on 7 April 1936, Underdown was raised in east London during the Second World War.

His first job was with his father, Jack, as a fishmonger but he soon made the move into print.

He worked for a local print company based in Ilford in the late 1950s before starting Penny Graphic with his business partner Bob Cole in Bethnal Green, east London, during the late 1960s.

In 1973 Underdown and Cole bought W E Harrison & Son, formally known as Ancient House, operating from the Buttermarket in Ipswich. They revived the company’s former identity as Ancient House Press and operated out of London and Cobbold Street, Ipswich.

By the early 1980s, Ancient House Press and its sister company Monarch Origination were among the leading colour commercial printers in the country. Monarch Origination was later sold to another Ipswich-based print group, Serif Cowells, and in 1985 Ancient House Press relocated from Cobbold Street to the Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate in Ipswich and invested extensively in new equipment.

After handing the reins to his son Micheal Underdown and daughter Allison Berry, who were appointed directors of the company in 1991, Underdown was able to enjoy a wide range of hobbies.

“He was very interested in gardening and he loved dogs, he had two labradors. He spent a lot of time with his seven grandchildren and enjoyed fishing and going on holiday,” said Micheal.

Despite taking a step back, Underdown remained closely engaged with the business, attending board meetings and involving himself in key investment decisions.

Today the web offset and sheetfed commercial printer employs 110 staff.

Underdown suffered with ill health in the final few years of his life and is survived by his wife, June, and his three children, Angela, Allison and Micheal.

The funeral will be held at 14:00 on 21 February at All Saints’ Church, Brandeston.

Underdown’s family said all friends and colleagues were welcome to attend.