Michael Wynn Jones, the former joint majority shareholder of Norwich City Football Club, has been remembered as Delia Smith’s “beloved husband” following his death at the age of 85.
A post shared on Smith’s social media account said Wynn Jones died “peacefully at home” on Monday 28 September. The statement described him as Smith’s husband and partner of more than 55 years. The couple married in 1971.
“It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Michael Wynn Jones, Delia’s beloved husband and partner of more than 55 years,” the statement said.
“We will remember Michael with enormous affection and gratitude,” it added, thanking him for being behind the scenes from the beginning of Delia Online and for helping with the website’s development.
The statement also expressed sympathy and love for Smith, Tom, Hannah, and Wynn Jones’s family and friends.
A further post on Smith’s website described Wynn Jones as someone who was “never someone who sought to be centre stage, but he was always a prominent figure to us all”.
The post said he was a keen chef who was “quite happy to take over in the kitchen”. It recalled that Smith had often spoken about knowing when to leave him alone while he was cooking, particularly if she wanted to avoid offering an opinion he had not asked for.
“It was part of their relationship and the familiarity that comes from sharing so many years together,” the statement said.
The post added that Wynn Jones was happiest during the “quieter moments with Delia” at their home in Suffolk. He also enjoyed doing word puzzles and watching their cat, Omar.
## Norwich City years
Smith and Wynn Jones were joint majority shareholders of Norwich City from 1998 until 2024. During their time at the club, Norwich, known as the Canaries, achieved six promotions.
The club won the Championship title three times, the Championship play-off final once and League One once, and finished as runners-up in the Championship once, according to the supplied report.
Smith’s time at Norwich is also fondly remembered by supporters for an appearance during a 2005 home match against Manchester City. She went on to the pitch, took the microphone from the club announcer and called on the crowd to support the team.
“This is a message for the best football supporters in the world. We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let’s be ‘avin’ you. Come on,” she told fans in the stadium.
The couple sold the club to Norfolk Holdings, a group led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, in April 2024. Smith and Wynn Jones remained at Norwich as honorary life presidents.
## A life alongside Delia Smith
Smith is known for BBC cookery programmes including *Delia Smith’s Cookery Course*, *Delia’s How To Cook* and *Delia Smith’s Winter Collection*.
She also baked the cake pictured on the cover of The Rolling Stones’ 1969 album *Let It Bleed*.
The tributes to Wynn Jones focused on his life with Smith, his support for Delia Online and the quieter domestic moments that shaped their relationship. The social media statement said his family and friends would remember him with affection and gratitude.
