Cumberland roots
Page 7
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What makes the Edward Stobart story more poignant is how Edward left school at the age of 15 with no formal qualifications and with a severe speech impediment. While either of these could normally be an obstacle against high achievement in business, Edward was to dramatically prove what was possible if you had the will and desire – together with the support of family, friends and loyal staff.
Born on 21 November 1954, Edward was the third of the four children born to Eddie and Nora Stobart. Home for the Stobart family was at Newlands Hill near Hesket Newmarket, which is about 15 miles south-west of Carlisle. Eddie (senior) came from a farming background and only used trucks – in the 1960s – as part of his agricultural contracting work. Eddie (now in his 80s) was to give his famous name to the Stobart business, but it was his young son Edward who was allowed to control the destiny of the family’s vehicles, which grew from a fleet size of three to more than 1,000.
Edward’s final report, when he left Caldew School (at Dalston near Carlisle) said that his academic progress had been limited. However, he had already shown a natural ability with anything mechanical. From an early age, Edward was driving, operating and repairing any of his father’s contracting machines. And long before he was legally allowed to drive on the road, he had demonstrated a natural affinity with vehicles that was way beyond his years.
He is also recalled as always being approachable and down to earth. Geoff Milne is said to have been the first road transport enthusiast to record the Stobart vehicles: “It must have been about 1975 when I first visited their yard near Caldbeck,” says Milne, “and I can remember how pleased Edward was that someone was interested in his vehicles.” Within a couple of years, Milne was travelling to Greystone Road in Carlisle to see the growing fleet of Stobart vehicles. Edward had persuaded his father that to make a success in haulage, their base would have to move nearer their customers.