Silverman began his print career in the 1970s on the trade counter at Spicers in Leeds, and went on to work for a Spicers offshoot that made picture frames.

His daughter Kirsty Florey said: “Dad loved the ‘paper’ industry and you couldn’t take him anywhere without him checking out the envelopes and how they were made. In earlier years he was even known to check the backs of frames in people’s houses to see if they were one of ‘his’.”

Silverman moved to Malvern and went on to work at the John Dickinson business in Ledbury. After the company was taken over by French firm Hamelin he subsequently worked at Pendragon Presentation Packaging, until ill health forced him to retire in 2013.

Silverman died on 27 November from heart failure.

Pendragon envelope specialist Steve Thackeray described him as “one of the last great characters in the envelope industry”.

“He was a lovely guy. He would do anything to get the order and he really loved this industry. People didn’t forget George.” Thackeray said.

“We worked together from 1991 to 2013 and he taught me a lot about the envelope business. There are so many great stories about George, like the time he went to a trade customer who said ‘I’ll give you the order if you jump over this desk’ – George took ten steps back, made a running leap and dived over the desk. He got the order!”

Silverman was widowed last year when his wife Andrene died. He is survived by his children Stuart and Kirsty, and three grand-daughters: Rebecca, Abigail and Niamh.

His funeral will take place at 2.30pm on Thursday 19 December at Worcestershire Crematorium. Industry connections are welcome to attend.

Donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation or Cancer Research UK.