Haulage magnate Edward Stobart dies, aged 56
Edward Stobart (r) sold the firm to his brother in 2004
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Haulage magnate Edward Stobart, who built up the Eddie Stobart lorry empire and ran it for more than 30 years, has died at the age of 56.
He suffered what were described as "heart problems" on Wednesday and died this morning in hospital in Coventry.
He took the business started by his father Eddie and built it into the best known haulage company in the UK.
Mr Stobart sold the firm to his brother William and business partner Andrew Tinkler in 2004.
In the 1970s Eddie Stobart took the company from a local firm delivering fertiliser into a road transport and warehousing company.
Drivers wore collars and ties, which was unusual at the time, and were also instructed to wave back and honk their horn when signalled by a passer-by.
By the 1990s the distinctive trucks, with each cabin bearing a woman's name, were a common sight on motorways across the UK and Europe.
'Massive loss'
The firm even set up its own fan club, which now has more than 25,000 members.
During the Kosovo crisis Eddie Stobart trucks delivered supplies to British forces based in neighbouring Macedonia.
When the company was sold in 2004 Eddie Stobart moved to the Midlands and took over a firm which built lorry trailers but that failed in 2009.
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Ann Preston, chair of haulage company, Preston's of Potto, paid tribute to what she described as a "very, very kind man".
"He was very passionate about road transport," she said.
"From a young boy he didn't want to do anything else.
"He's a massive loss, he's definitely the most iconic figure that has ever been in this industry."
The Stobart Group said in a statement: "Our thoughts are with Edward's wife Mandy, his children and family at this difficult time."
The Stobart Members' Club said in a statement: "The club's members will certainly have fond memories of the man who started the phenomenon off, created the iconic Eddie Stobart brand and made it cool to spot lorries.
"Stobart Spotting will continue and the legacy of Edward Stobart will live on."
Edward Stobart, famed for his construction of the  truck empire and being its  for over thirty years, has died at the age of 56. In a statement, the Stobart Group commented: "It is with great sadness and regret that Stobart Group shares the news that Edward Stobart, son of Eddie Stobart, passed away at 8:10 AM this morning at , after heart problems yesterday."

When Eddie Stobart — Edward's father, who is aged over eighty — created the company during the 1950s in  in northern England, it originally involved itself in the business of agriculture. In the 1970s, the business was given the name Eddie Stobart Limited and became a haulage service. Eddie Stobart then handed over the company to his son. The enterprise subsequently became the most popular of that industry within the United Kingdom, according to ''''; it extended to include transportation by air and railways, as well as warehousing and management of .

Due to the  that they had achieved via a  of 'Stobart spotters', which involves the observation of their company's uniquely named vehicles, the Stobart Group decided to create an official followers' group, which now has in excess of twenty-five thousand members. Eddie Stobart-branded merchandise has also been released.

William Stobert — the brother of Edward Stobart — and Andrew Tinkler purchased the business from Edward in 2004. Edward subsequently relocated to the  and took over what was to become an unsuccessful  building firm in 2009.

Edward Stobart experienced his death in , England at 0810  (0710 ) on Thursday. The Stobart Group have expressed their condolences to "Edward's wife Mandy, his children and family at this difficult time."

Haulage firm Preston's of Potto's chairwoman Ann Preston described Edward as "the most iconic figure that has ever been in this industry" and that the death of a man who "was very passionate about road transport" and "didn't want to do anything else" since he was a child was "a massive loss". The Stobart Members' Club have stated: "The club's members will certainly have fond memories of the man who started the phenomenon off, created the iconic Eddie Stobart brand and made it cool to spot lorries. Stobart Spotting will continue and the legacy of Edward Stobart will live on."