Eddie Stobart's heartbreaks from truck company scandals to son's tragic death
Share:
Famed trucking firm founder Eddie Stobart suffered many heartbreaks before his death. The businessman, whose full name was Eddie Pears Stobart, died on November 25 at the age of 95, his representatives confirmed today. Eddie set up the family-named trucking firm in the 1940s before taking a backseat over the last few decades. The company now operates more than 2,500 vehicles.
Eddie wanted his trucks to be known for more than their deliveries, so he started a famous tradition of naming them after women, with monikers including the likes of Maggie, Betty and Rosie. He also garnered a cult following for allowing drivers to name the truck to which they were assigned - a tradition that continued as the years passed.
Heartbroken tributes shared online have praised Eddie's titanic impact, with one Facebook user writing: "Another end of an iconic era of British business. RIP Sir, you gave thousands and thousands of ordinary folk great pleasure collecting your lovely truck names on long journeys through the years. Let's hope the name can remain.".
But despite the family name holding such significance to members of the British public, Eddie suffered many heartbreaks throughout his lifetime and his business was hit with multiple scandals. Here, the Mirror takes a look at the losses Eddie had to endure...
In 2011, Eddie's son, Edward Stobart - always called Edward to prevent confusion with his father - died at the age of 56. The businessman, who took over the family lorry firm and ran it for more than 30 years, passed away in hospital from a suspected heart attack, with his wife Mandy and two of his six children at his bedside.
