Eddie Stobart's heartbreaks from truck company scandals to son's tragic death

Businessman Eddie Stobart, who founded the famous family-named trucking firm eight decades ago, has sadly died at the age of 95, his representatives confirmed today

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...

Tragic family death

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.

Edward reportedly sold the company to his brother, William, and his business partner, Andrew Tinkler, in 2004 to pursue other business ventures. William brother broke the news to the Eddie Stobart workforce, saying: "Edward, although not directly involved in today's company, was the person who built the firm up.

"He was the one who built the Eddie Stobart brand and business and we have so much to thank him for." Meanwhile, a close friend said at the time: "It is terribly sad. His dad, who started it all, is still alive in his 80s living in Cumbria. The family is very private and they won't be talking about this."

Late son's bankruptcy

After Edward's death, it was revealed that the businessman had died bankrupt and had considerable debts at the end of his life. Documents showed Edwards, who built the family business into a household name, filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and had personal debts of £220,000 when he passed away on March 31, 2011.

At the time, the Stobart Group said Edward's financial affairs were a "private matter". Richard Butcher, then-chief executive of the firm, said: "I worked with him for a number of years and he was an absolute gentleman. A very generous, a very kind man. A very shy man in some respects. He demanded the best from everyone who worked with him, but he was loyal to those who worked with him throughout his time at the business."

Company scandals

The family's truck company has been involved in several scandals over the years, including botched audits, asbestos exposure and huge financial errors. In 2019, shares in the logistics company were suspended after the finance chief discovered a £2million accounting error.

In 2019, the company was also hit with mounting debt with losses of over £12million. It came a year after accounting firms PwC and KPMG were fined nearly £3milllion for filing botched audits of the company in 2017 and 2018.

In 2022, the company was fined £133,000 after work at one of its sites in Widnes exposed staff to asbestos. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found an asbestos survey had not been carried out, staff had not been trained, and the firm failed to report the incident correctly.

Eddie was also involved in many legal battles during his lifetime. In 2022, the company's former chief executive, Andrew Tinkler, failed to overturn a High Court ruling that his sacking was lawful. The entrepreneur was dramatically dismissed from the company following a claim that he was attempting to 'destabilise' the firm.