Eddie Stobart (1929-2024): The Christian businessman behind Britain’s most iconic lorry firm

Eddie Stobart, known for his visionary work in haulage, agriculture, and the construction of the M6 motorway, has died, aged 95.

Stobart leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his business empire, reflecting his deep Christian faith and commitment to spreading the gospel.

Though many will remember him as a successful businessman, what can be said for the legacy he left as a man of God? 

Eddie was someone I knew well - and worked with on a number of projects in Cumbria. He comes from a family who are steeped in Christian heritage. His mother and father, Adelaide and John Stobart, were farmers and devout Methodists. His mother died when Eddie was just 12 years old and, two years later, he left school to work on their family smallholding in Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria.

Modest beginnings

Eddie started out in business in 1946, while still in his early 20s, providing fertilizer to local farms. Eleven years later, he bought his first lorry, a second-hand four-wheeler, painting it the iconic red and green that would one day become so well known. Later, he branched out into highways management. He was even involved in the construction of the UK’s first motorway, the M6.

Eddie lived into his 90s – and his faith never waned

In 1951, he married Nora Byrd, whom he met at a Bible rally. They had a daughter, Anne, and three sons, Edward, John and William. It was Edward, who took over the firm in 1973 aged just 19, who grew Eddie Stobart haulage into a multi-million pound business. At its peak, the firm had 2,000 lorries - each bearing as a lady’s name as well as Stobart’s own -  their iconic green and red livery instantly recognisable on motorways across the UK.

In 2004, his son Edward sold the company for £280m, but money did not much matter to Eddie. He once told journalist Hunter Davies, who wrote The Eddie Stobart Story (HarperNonfiction): “I never aimed to devote my life to work…I am by nature fairly laidback compared to Edward. I used to think to myself, what’s the point of all his worry and rush? We are here to serve God, not Mammon.”

Firm foundations

Eddie was a committed member of Gideons UK (now known as Good News for Everyone), an association of Christians dedicated to telling people about Jesus, most commonly by providing Bibles in hotels, schools and in strategic locations so they are available to those who want them, as well as to those who may not know they need them. Nora, his wife, was also one-time Ladies’ President of Gideons UK.

Eddie also built a church in Wigton called Lowmoor Evangelical Church, a beautiful church in a small market town where he sometimes preached, and was also responsible for bringing the Christian book distributor Send the Light (STL) from Bromley, in Kent to Carlisle. Locally, it was often referred to as the Eddie Stobart book warehouse! From here, books and Bibles were shipped all over the world.

 I used to think to myself, what’s the point of all his worry and rush? We are here to serve God, not Mammon

Eddie is an iconic person in Cumbria and Carlisle. At his very core, he longed to see people come to faith. Everybody knew that he was a man of God.

Edward Pears Stobart lived into his 90s - and his faith never waned. There were some challenging and difficult times with the business and family, but his faith was always constant.

Eddie and Nora were and are faithful people of God. As they say in this part of the world, they’re good Christian stock. He will always be remembered, not only as a businessman, but as a Christian businessman.

Eddie Stobart is survived by his wife, Nora, daughter Anne and son William.