Obituary - Roy Burek

RoyBurek

Roy Burek, equestrian safety pioneer and chairman of Charles Owen and Airowear, passed away peacefully in hissleep on 27 April following a heart attack. He was 61 and had been working in America.

The grandson of Charles Owen, Roy dedicated a lifetime’s work tomaking riding safer. He always gave generously and kindly of his time and knowledge when anyone -from international academics to Pony Club parents -needed his help.

Under Roy’s direction, Charles Owen has become an important global brand in equestrian safety; its British made products exemplifying his innovation in design and research.

Roy was also instrumental in the development of international safety standards. And he was involved in research into the science ofhead injury, work that saw him honoured as a Professor at Cardiff University in 2017.

He supported equestrianism in many, varied ways too. Roy was an early advocate forPony Racing, for example, the spring board for many of today’s top jockeys.

To the trade, he gave his time, energy and expertise unstintingly. Through Charles Owen’s sponsorship, Roy was along-standing supporter of BETA International. At the trade

fair, and while collaborating with the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) to train retailers and riding organisations on rider safety gear, he believed education was the key to better protection.

Roy’s son Owen Burek - the fourth generation of the family at Charles Owen - had increasingly been supporting his father with strategic decisions in recent years.

Owen is committed to building onthe company’s 108-year heritage whilst maintaining ‘business as usual’ for employees, retailers and customers. He is working closely with senior management in both the UK and USA, including operations director Ricky Hone.

Cynthia Burek, Roy’s sister and a Professor at the University of Chester, and Owen have set up a trust fund in Roy’s name to enable his work to continue into more research into head injuries and safety equipment.

“Enthusiasm for education”

Paying tribute to Roy, Claire Williams, executive director of BETA, said: “Roy played akey role in the development and improvement of safety standards and his death leaves an enormous gap. He was a person who always had time for others and was incredibly patient and generous with his knowledge and expertise.

“Roy was aloyal supporter of BETA and its work to promote rider safety. His enthusiasm for education was second to none and he would always do his best to assist with our training courses and awareness-raising initiatives whenever asked.

“Roy was held in high regard by everyone in the equestrian industry and will be sorely missed.”