Eddie Stobart dies aged 95 as tributes flood in for man who founded iconic lorry firm

EDDIE Stobart has died aged 95 as tributes have flooded in for the man who founded one of Britain’s best-known transport companies.

The founder of the company – whose name was known on his trucks – died on November 25, his representatives confirmed today.

Eddie Stobart – whose name was known on his trucks – died on November 25 Credit: Getty

Today, the company now owns and operates more than 2,500 vehicles Credit: PA: Press Association

Eddie, left, with his son Edward who later took over the company Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Eddie founded the company in the 1940s and it grew into a national icon under the leadership of his financially savvy son Edward.

Edward sadly died aged 56 of a suspected heart attack in 2011.

He took over the company in 1976 and is largely responsible for transforming the company into the industrial giant it is today.

Father Eddie, born in 1929 in Cumbria, originally worked as a farmer in the 1940s.

He left school at 14 and eventually earned enough money to buy an unbroken horse, which he trained and later sold for double the price.

Eddie took the money and invested it in chickens and coops to sell.

The young entrepreneur managed to earn enough to buy a tractor and a thresher, which he then used for other farmers.

He met his future wife, 17-year-old Nora Boyd, at church and they married on Boxing Day 1951.

They had four children, a daughter Anne and three sons, Edward, John and William.

Eddie previously claimed that he would never have named the company after himself if he had known how big it would grow.

He told The Times: “I never intended to commit to work.

“We are here to serve God, not Mammon.”

Eddie Stobart’s first truck was a used four-wheeled Guy Invincible, which began operating on British roads in 1957.

The truck had Eddie Stobart’s famous green and red livery.

Originally, he delivered loads and fertilizer spreading to local farmers.

Shortly after launch, the company was offered a contract by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) if Eddie could build a warehouse.

Despite his success, Eddie was always seen as more relaxed than his son Edward, who later took over the business.

Eddie never worked on Saturdays, preferring to spend time with his children, and Sundays were for God.

This meant when Edward took over, aged just 19, there were only eight trucks and 12 employees.

But today the company owns and operates more than 2,500 vehicles.

Edward continued the tradition of christening trucks with female names, including Twiggy – according to the model.

The former company boss is credited with changing the public’s perception of the industry and rebranding it to convey a sharper and cleaner image.

Stobart drivers began wearing a collar and tie uniform and were told to wave and honk when signaled by passers-by.

Their business continued to grow thanks to the relocation of the trucking operations from the Hesket family’s home village of Newmarket, Cumbria, to Carlisle.

Eddie said: “Board meetings consisted of me sitting in an armchair at home while Edward calls me somewhere from the M6 and tells me what he’s doing.”

After the founder retired, he and Nora joined the Gideons and took Bibles to schools, hospitals and prisons.

Spreading their message, they also offered their home to visiting preachers.

When Edward died in 2011, his brother William took over the family business.

William and his brother John bought the company after it went through financial difficulties in the 2000s.

Edward filed for bankruptcy a year before his death with debts of £220.00, as reported by The Mail.

In a statement at the time of his death, William said: “Edward, although not directly involved in the company today, was the person who built the brand and the business and we have a lot to thank him for.”