The man behind one of Britain’s most famous transport brands dies after a long and influential life
Eddie Pears Stobart, the businessman behind the iconic British lorry company Eddie Stobart, has passed away at the age of 95.
Born in 1929 in Cumbria, Stobart established his haulage company in 1946 to distribute fertiliser and later made history in the 1960s by repainting his first lorry in the distinctive green and red design that became synonymous with the brand. His son, Edward, took over in 1973 and oversaw the company’s rapid expansion, which grew into a fleet of 1,000 lorries and an international logistics powerhouse by the time Eddie sold the business in the early 2000s.
Stobart’s lorries were known for being named after women such as Twiggy, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Suzi Quatro — a tradition carried on by his son Edward until his death in 2011 at the age of 56. Drivers were even encouraged to hoot their horns in response to waves from members of the public, adding a unique, personal touch to the brand’s identity. At its peak, an Eddie Stobart fan club boasted 25,000 members.
Although the company was rebranded as Stobart and is now owned by Culina Group, the iconic name remains a symbol of Stobart’s legacy in logistics and transport.
According to The Times, Stobart never intended for his name to become the face of such a national institution if he had known the company’s eventual success. He was a devout Christian, having met his wife Nora at a Bible rally in Carlisle. The couple married on Boxing Day in 1951 and were both active members of their church throughout their lives. They had four children: Anne, John, Edward, and William. Eddie Stobart is survived by his daughter Anne and son William.
His death marks the end of a remarkable business journey that forever shaped the British haulage industry.
