Michael Wynn Jones, the honorary life president and long-time joint majority shareholder of Norwich City, has died peacefully at home at the age of 85. The Welsh editor, publisher and writer spent 26 years as the club's joint majority shareholder alongside his wife, the former television cook Delia Smith, from 1998 to 2024.
Club statement confirms death
Norwich City released a statement acknowledging his passing on Monday morning, 28 September 2026. The statement read: "Everyone at Norwich City is deeply saddened by the passing of our honorary life president, Michael Wynn Jones. Michael died peacefully at home on Monday morning, aged 85."
It continued: "He will be greatly missed. His family are grateful for the wonderful care provided by the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich. Our deepest condolences are with Delia and Tom, and with all of Michael's family, friends and loved ones. At the family's request, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."
Tributes from former players
His family have expressed gratitude to the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich for their care, while asking for privacy. Tom refers to Thomas Smith, Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones's nephew, who joined the club's board in 2016.
Multiple former Norwich players paid tribute on social media. Darren Huckerby wrote on X: "Such sad news, he stayed out of the limelight, but all at Norwich City FC owe him so much. My thoughts and best wishes to Delia and family."
Iwan Roberts added: "Such sad news to come home to from Denmark. Michael was a lovely, quiet man who was Norwich City FC through and through. My deepest condolences and my thoughts to Delia at this most difficult time." Darren Eadie also said: "So sorry to hear this: a kind and caring gentleman. NCFC were blessed to have him at the club for so long. Life President second, NCFC fan first."
Long association with the club
Wynn Jones attended his first Norwich match in 1953 alongside his father, who was the vicar of Harleston in South Norfolk, and took Smith to her first match in 1969, the year they met. They joined the board of directors in 1996 in exchange for a loan, before buying out the majority shareholder, Geoffrey Watling, two years later.
