Leading transport men bow out
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TWO well-known personalities who were described this week as having made a "significant contribution to the transport industry" will retire at the end of the year.
They are George Gibb, a member of the National Freight Corporation's executive board and co-ordinator of its special traffics group, and Tom Atkin, chairman of Tay-Scot Ltd.
Mr Gibb, CBE, began his career as a traffic apprentice with the LNER in 1933. He held various positions with BRS until he was appointed vice-chairman and managing director of BRS Federation Ltd.
in 1967 he became director of freight planning of the Transport Holding Company until, in 1968, he was appointed general manager of the Freightliner Division of the British Railways Board. When Freightliners Ltd was formed in 1969 he took on the managing director's job and he was promoted in 1972 to his present responsibilities.
Mr Atkin, OBE, joined Beaumont Bros (Halifax) Ltd in 1931 and after a number of takeovers became managing director of J. Hadfield (Glasgow) Ltd. In 1949 he moved to Dumfries and took over some 26 units which became the Caledonian Group.
When the group was denationalised he became managing director of the new Company Road Services (Caledonian) Ltd. He joined the main board of Tayforth Ltd as a director, in 1969 was appointed managing director and in 1972 became the chairman. When Tay-Scot was formed at the beginning of this year he was appointed chairman.
Praising both the men Sir Dan Pettit, chairman of NFC, said that they were "legendary figures who have made a significant contribution to the transport industry. They will both be missed in the counsels of the NEC."
A man who has spent the whole of his working life in transport and the motor industry has been appointea to the newly created post of general manager, sales and marketing, of OAF trucks (GB) Ltd. He is J. E. (Eddie) Farley, 46, who started as an apprentice with Vauxhall Motors, served with REME and became chief engineer of Fisher and Stacey. In 1962 he was made group transport engineer of Tate and Lyle, then general manager of their Transport Engineering Services Division and finally technical consultant to Tate and Lyle Enterprises.
OAF also has a new parts manager, John Ruane, who for the past 18 months has been area parts manager. ne will now head the new parts centre organisation at Marlow.
Southern BRS has just appointed Ted Symonds as the manager of Victoria Park branch at Bethnal Green.
James Mackay has been appointed manager of United Carriers Cheadle Heath, Stockport, depot. He is a member of the CIT and succeeds Michael Howe, who has recently been transferred to the company's new Bury depot.
A. S. Hawkridge has been appointed deputy chairman of James Car Deliveries Ltd and a director of the parent company, Tolemans Holdings. He is succeeded by T. W. McCann as managing director. Mr McCann joins the company from Ford of Britain, where he was manager, traffic and Customs.