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Obituary: Wrightbus founder Sir William Wright Tributes have been pouring in from across the industry and beyond following the death of 94 year old Sir William Wright who founded the Ballymena based bus manufacturing company with his father, Robert, in 1946. Sir William, who was knighted in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to the economy and was given the Freedom of the Borough by Mid and East Antrim Council in 2019, was described as a legendary figure in the business world, with family friend and MP Ian Paisley jnr calling him “one of the last true captains of industry and commerce.” Translink chief executive Chris Conway said Sir William had made a huge contribution to the bus industry globally and the NI economy and his passing was “very sad news,” while Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said that Sir William was “a man of immense standing, not just within Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector but also within the local community. The legacy that he leaves cannot be overstated.” Also paying tribute was Industrialist Jo Bamford, the heir to the JCB empire, who took over the
Sir William Wright.
reins of Wrightbus in 2019 after rescuing the company from administration and transformed it into one of the world’s most prominent bus manufacturers. Jo Bamford said the Wrightbus name was synonymous with
everything they stood for and “those values - problem-solving, hard work and never giving up - course through the business I run today. Sir William was fiercely loyal to this community and the fact his name is still held in such regard is testament
to his relentless dedication.” He added: “Everyone here at Wrightbus should never forget how this business started and the sacrifices which were made to ensure it goes from strength to strength in the future. Sir William is an indelible part of this fantastic story.” Sir William, who served for many years on Ballymena Borough Council up until 2005, pioneered aluminium bus framing in the UK in 1976, introduced the first low floor bus in 1992, the first British designed and built EV bus in 1999 and finally ensured the future of the business by leading the design of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell double deck in 2015. Its zero- emission battery electric bus was recently named as the most efficient in the world, with orders coming in from around the globe. A service of thanksgiving was held in Green Pastures Church in Ballymena for Sir William who is survived by his wife Ruby, Lady Wright, and children Mandy, Lorraine and Jeff; he had 10 grand children.
SMMT appoints Will Reeves as Commercial Vehicle and Bus & Coach Section Manager The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has appointed Will Reeves as Commercial Vehicle and Bus & Coach Section Manager. This follows the retirement of Nigel Base in April after 11 years in the role. He takes the reins of SMMT’s commercial vehicle and bus and coach sector engagement at a critical juncture for the industry, with a shift to zero emission mobility that has significant implications for vehicle production, supply chains and infrastructure, as well as the wider UK economy and society. He joins SMMT from Logistics UK, where he was Sector Development Manager with responsibility for account management of vehicle manufacturers, leasing and hire companies. With more than a decade’s experience in logistics, building relationships between OEMs and suppliers, and following his first industry role at the Society of Operations Engineers, Reeves has seen first-hand how the sector plays an essential role in the UK, providing the vans, taxi cabs, buses and trucks that keep it moving. With a number of key commercial vehicle, bus and coach manufacturing sites across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and growing development of zero emission technologies, Reeves is charged with representing SMMT members in the sector, and supporting their growth and investment to be competitive while undergoing a successful transition towards 2040.
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I am pleased that Will, with his expertise and years of experience in the sector, has joined SMMT to support our members on this journey, ensuring the industry’s voice is heard far and wide as it expands and attracts new players.” Will Reeves added, “The automotive sector, including truck and bus, is going through one of the biggest changes in its history. The next 10 years will see an unprecedented scale of innovation, as operators move from an era dependent on internal combustion engines to a dynamic but still developing future of zero emission commercial vehicles.
Will Reeves.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Britain’s commercial vehicle and bus and coach sectors are at a pivotal moment, in the early stages of their transition to zero emission transport, with huge change on the horizon for vehicle and supply chain manufacturers.
“I’m looking forward to working with the industry and seeing the new technologies that will decarbonise the whole range of commercial vehicle use cases, and helping SMMT to promote the sector to the wider public.” SMMT’s CV and Bus and Coach Section provides extensive support, insight and a platform for members to gather and discuss the challenges affecting the industry, as well as representing and promoting sector and cross-sector interests to all stakeholders.
