Obituary – Alan Wheat

Alan Wheat, who died earlier this month after a short illness, was a larger than life character who will be missed greatlly and remembered fondly by many in the timber industry.

Mr Wheat, who was sales and marketing director at BSW Timber, started his working life as an apprentice engineer in the pits. However, he soon decided it wasn’t the life for him and he worked in various roles, including a period with Crown Paints, before joining BSW in 2000.

There he played a vital role in developing BSW’s national account business and introducing Easiedge to the market.

Mr Wheat was heavily involved in The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and at the time of his death was chairman of the International & UK Suppliers Division and a director on the governing board.

“Alan understood completely the positive influence the TTF could wield and made a great contribution to our work,” said TTF chief executive John White. “His unique humour and relentless energy, coupled with enormous empathy for his friends and colleagues, means that there is now a big hole in the lives of everyone connected to the TTF. He will be missed.”

His absence will also be felt by the Timber Trades’ Benevolent Society.

“Alan Wheat was an outstanding supporter of TTBS as well as an active member and past president of the Scottish District,” said outgoing general manager Malcolm Job. “His organisation of raffles and charity auctions at the TTBS National Golf Days and other fund-raising events within the trade was legendary; the amounts he raised were spectacular. He will be greatly missed, not least at this year’s TTBS Golf Day in July for which he did most of the preliminary fund-raising.”

Alan applied his tireless energy and enthusiasm to all aspects of his life. An avid sports fan, he was a football referee in local leagues in Sheffield and supported Sheffield Wednesday.

He also appeared on the Weakest Link, where he came third.

Alan is survived by his wife Chris, daughters Anna and Danielle, and three grandchildren.