East Anglia-based haulier Bartrums, which was founded in 1929 with just one truck and now boasts a fleet of more than160 vehicles, has just unveiled a special new truck in honour of former MD Philip Bartrum.
Philip, who passed away last year, was MD at Bartrums for more than 40 years and is credited with playing a significant part in the sustained growth of the family-run firm, which is a Pallet-Track shareholder member.
Following a call-up for national service after finishing school, Philip spent two years with RAF Logistics before joining Bartrums to work for his father Leonard in 1957.
The family legacy continues to this day, with Philip’s son Robert at the helm as joint MD.
Bartrums operations director Tremayne Johnson said: “Without doubt, Philip was the main driving force behind building the business when he and his brothers took over from Leonard.
“He led the business during its most significant period of growth as managing director from 1966 through to the early noughties.
“He negotiated and agreed a national contract with Boots in 1967 for an operation which grew to six national distribution centres and became Bartrums’ biggest-ever contract.
“He also negotiated and agreed a contract with MK Electric in 1989 which ran for 36 years and set up a UK dealership for Seddon Atkinson Trucks from 1984.
“At his side throughout this period were his two brothers, Roger and Roy, and between the three of them, they very much put Bartrums on the map.
“That’s why the company has decided to mark the incredibly positive impact Philip made on this business by dedicating one of our new Volvo Aero tractor units as a tribute to him.
“In appreciation of Philip and Bartrums’ history and heritage, the truck will take to the road in our historic livery colour of brown and white with a personalised number plate F25 BRS, a nod to the name of the company when Philip took the helm, Bartrums Road Services.
“It will also include a dedication to ‘Philip E. Bartrum 1937-2024’ on the front panel of the truck, just above the grille, in honour of someone who gave pretty much his entire working life to Bartrums.”
Stuart Godman, chief executive at Pallet-Track, added: “This is a fabulous and fitting tribute by Bartrums to a man who steered the business in the right direction during his 40-plus years at the wheel.
“It’s exactly the tribute we would expect from this quality long-running, family-led business, recognising Philip’s incredible contribution and paying homage to almost 100 years of Bartrums service across East Anglia and the UK.”
Main picture: Joint MD Robert Bartrum (centre) with his uncles Roy and Roger Bartrum.
