Obituary – Tim Bennett

Mr Bennett was educated at Eastbourne College before spending some time in Switzerland prior to a spell in National Service.

In the 1950s he started his career in the timber industry by joining the family business, Bennetts Timber Company.

During the late 1960s the company went into administration and he was appointed managing director and helped to steer the company towards better times and then to profitability.

He maintained the company through the peaks and troughs of business cycles and welcomed his son Edward into the business in the 1990s. He was delighted when Edward became managing director.

More recently Mr Bennett’s elder son, Robert, has also joined to help with the running of the business. Although Mr Bennett officially retired he was still involved in the company, going into the office weekly until shortly before he died.

Despite running a business and raising a young family with his wife Rosemary, he found time to work tirelessly for the trade associations both locally and nationally.

He served as chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside Timber Trade Association during more than 30 years on the committee. He was a leading member in the Timer Trade Federation, serving for many years on the softwood committees and travelling abroad, representing the UK trade with distinction.

Mr Bennett’s charm, humour, business acumen and an ability to enjoy the company of and respect all those he came into contact with inside and outside the world of business will be long remembered.

He is survived by his wife Rosemary, sons Robert and Edward and four grandchildren Polly, Tom, Archie, and Jack.