The founder of one of the Britain’s most renowned haulage firms has died at the age of 95.
Eddie Pears Stobart, who originally founded the family-named business Eddie Stobart in the 1940s, died on November 25.
He was born in 1929 in Cumbria and worked as a farmer before trying his arm in the business world.
Eddie set up a small agricultural business in 1946, focusing on distributing fertiliser and doing contract work for local farms as well as running a farm shop.
He doubted there was much money to be made in haulage, and saw his small fleet simply as ‘a tool for business’, which back then was distributing slag, the fertiliser by-product of industrial steelmaking.
But Eddie’s second-youngest child Edward – so-called to distinguish him from his father – took over the company in the 1970s and made it into a household name in the haulage sector with the business now owning more than 2700 vehicles.
Taking over the transport side in 1976, Edward, at the age of 21, started with eight lorries and 12 employees before building it into one of Britain’s biggest logistics brands.
He gave his lorries female names, the first named Twiggy after the model, and he is credited with changing the public’s image of a dirty, macho industry into an efficient, clean and friendly company.
Under his stewardship, drivers of Stobart trucks wore collars and ties and were instructed to wave back and honk their horn when signalled by passers-by.
Eddie Stobart set up a small agricultural business in the 1940s, focusing on distributing fertiliser and doing contract work for local farms as well as running a farm shop
Eddie’s (left) second-youngest child Edward Stobart (right) – so-called to distinguish him from his father – who took over the company in the 1970s and made it into a household name
The business now has more than 2700 vehicles and is one of the Britain’s most renowned haulage firms. Pictured: Eddie Stobart truck on the M6 toll motorway
The first Stobart lorry arrived in 1960 in the form of a second-hand Guy Invincible four-wheeler which he repainted in green and red.
Their distinctive liveried trucks became a mainstay of Britain’s motorways and even sparked a spotting craze, fan club and cult following.
The fan club garnered thousands of members which created an opportunity for the manufacture of Eddie Stobart model trucks and other branded merchandise.
Eddie, meanwhile, sold most of his trading interests in 1980 to invest in an industrial warehouse near Carlisle, where he ended up retiring with his wife Nora Boyd who he married in 1951.
In later years, Eddie watched the family business rise to fortunes estimated to be around £100m before running into difficulties during tough financial times in 2000s.
It was then the business was bought by a partnership ran by his younger brother and Eddie’s fourth and final child of William Stobart.
Edward, who ran the haulage empire for more than 30 years, died in 2011, aged 56, of a suspected heart attack.
Eddie Stobart, centre, arrives for the funeral of his son, Edward Stobart, with his wife Noram Boyd
The hearse of Edward Stobart is led away by three of the iconic green, red and white Eddie Stobart trucks from Carlisle Cathedral following his funeral
A floral tribute to Edward Stobart ahead of his funeral. He gave his lorries female names, the first named Twiggy
He had been taken to University hospital in Coventry after apparently collapsing at home in Ettington, Warwickshire.
It was reported that Edward died having filed for bankrupt the previous year with debts of £220,00.
His brother William, to whom Edward sold the firm in 2004, told workers of the sudden death.
In a statement at the time he said: ‘Edward, although not directly involved in today’s company, was the person who built the brand and business and we have so much to thank him for.’
Three of the iconic green, red and white Eddie Stobart trucks, including two from the 70s and 80s were part of his funeral procession.
Around 500 people were inside Carlisle Cathedral for the funeral service. The three Eddie Stobart trucks parked outside led the hearse away from the cathedral after the service to a private burial.
