Derek Payne died on 18th May 2016, he was 82 years old.
He joined the moving industry in 1966 working for Brewer & Turnbull and Whites Removals. Most of his working life, however, was spent with Robinsons where he stared as a manager eventually becoming MD of the whole company, and Peter Robinson’s right-hand man. In 1978 Robinsons bought the Coxeter name in Abingdon which came with a couple of warehouses, on in a farm building and one in a brewery. Derek took up residence and ran the company which gave Robinsons its base in the town. “Derek did virtually everything at that time,” said Peter Robinson. “He worked very hard, was loyal and absolutely determined to be successful.” At acquisition the company had just six men; by 1987 there were 70 on the payroll and Coxeters had become the largest subsidiary of Robinsons.
Derek was the President of BAR in 1987 having been installed at the conference in Stratford on Avon. Rob Syers was the BAR General Secretary at the time. “He was committed to the industry and a stickler for detail,” he said, “some might say pedantic.” But that ability was put to good use for the benefit of the whole industry as Derek was involved with the development of ISO 12522 right from the beginning. “He always wanted to do things right,” said Rob. “He was held in very high respect and was rock solid, he never missed a Board meeting.”
After retiring from the day-to-day business Derek continued his connection with the industry with charitable work as Chairman of the BAR’s Removers Benevolent Fund (RBA) where he was renowned for absolute fairness. Derek’s funeral was well attended by representatives of the moving industry and BAR that he had served so well for so long.
Photo: Derek Payne, BAR President