That was the tale told by Sheila Dale at Wigan Masonic Fellowship meeting at Pemberton Masonic Hall. To add to the tale, Sheila was accompanied by her fantastic collection of model Stobart trucks, large and small.
Sheila’s collection of model trucks.
As Sheila posed in her presentation: “How many times have we been stuck in either lanes two or three on the M1 or the M6 only to see an ‘Eddie’ smoothly passing at a steady pace in the inside lane?” An old friend of mine always used to say: “Get behind an ‘Eddie’ and you’ll get home just as quick.”
Sheila described the small beginnings by the Stobart family in the transport business in Cumbria and the trials and tribulations they went through to become the most famous and probably most highly regarded transport company in the UK. It was started in the 1940s as an agricultural business by ‘Steady’ Eddie Stobart in Cumbria near Carlisle. He had four children, one of whom was christened Edward and he was always addressed as Edward to avoid confusion with his father. He had a keen interest in trucks and after he left school he started working for his father’s small but growing haulage business moving agricultural materials around the region.
Eventually the business grew and became known for its individual corporate image of all its fleet of vehicles being painted red and green and being immaculate kept. This approach eventually paid off more and more and the business developed into the brand we all know. In 1975 it became Eddie Stobart Ltd and by 1990 the fleet of 26 in 1985 had grown to over 300. The company won ‘Haulier of the Year’ in 1990.
The company has diversified considerably and is now involved not just with haulage but coach travel, air freight and railway maintenance and rail freight.
It is interesting to note that at one point in its history its drivers had to wear a shirt and tie and any driver caught not wearing one as required could be subject to disciplinary action. That requirement has now been relaxed.
Sheila’s presentation was very well received by the 40 or so members present at the meeting.
The Wigan Group Fellowship meets on the second Tuesday of the months of September through to June at Pemberton Masonic Hall at 2pm. Retired Masons and the widows of Masons are welcome to come along and enjoy a varied programme and the fellowship of good company. As a bonus, it only costs 50p for tea or coffee and biscuits and there is a raffle at every meeting with a variety of prizes.
Sheila addresses her audience.