Bedson said his long-time friend and business associate would be sadly missed. "We were great mates and this is such a shock because he was a very fit guy. He was one of the nicest chaps you could meet".
Current Wyndeham Group chief executive Paul Utting said: "Richard was passionate about the industry and Wyndeham Heron in particular. He could always be relied upon for wise counsel and a sharp sense of humour that helped keep things in perspective even in the most difficult of times."
Manroland GB managing director Norman Revill also paid tribute: "He had tremendous foresight about what different models of printing press could do for his business and his customers. He also had great vision and was constantly in contact with what was happening in the marketplace and adapted his strategy accordingly. He was as sharp as a razor.
"When he retired the industry was a lesser place, and this is really very sad news," Revill added.
After leaving the Wyndeham Group, Heron maintained his links with the industry and kept in close contact with neighbouring Essex business Woodford Litho.
"He would pop in and we would chew the fat about what was happening in the printing industry, he always had something insightful to say and he would pass on his views in his inimitable style," said Woodford chairman Simon Fox. "At Herons he took the major step of putting 64pp presses in for short- and medium-run work and he was the first to do that. Another of his big achievements was relocating the firm from Silver End to Maldon."Heron was divorced, and is survived by his former wife and two sons.
Details of the funeral arrangements were unavailable at the time of writing.
