After a short illness one of the UK timber trades’ great characters, Maurice Tyler, has passed away at the age of 82.
Upon leaving Cedars Grammar School in Leighton Buzzard in 1961 Maurice joined the family timber business of H. Tyler & Sons that had been started by his grandfather.
He was subsequently headhunted by James Latham Importers to help them set up a number of specialist timber centres all over the country. Following success with this he then progressed his career with a number of other timber merchants and subsequently joined Hall & Co with the brief to develop timber sales within this traditional builders merchant, a task he absolutely fulfilled.
In 1998 he was invited by John Griffiths to join him at Alsford Timber to help turn the business around. Maurice joined as Commercial Director and together they really moved the business forward. In 2009 he retired from full time work, but he continued to be a part of the timber trade as he took on consultancy roles with the Finnish government, other businesses & buying groups.
Maurice loved his work and had a phenomenal knowledge of timber, particularly joinery, and he knew and really understood the practical side of mill operations. Further, he took great delight in passing on this knowledge with anyone and everyone, he was never judgemental, he just wanted others to share in his passion for timber.
Outside of work, Maurice was a Round Tabler and had been a founder member of the Leighton Buzzard Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife Sylvia, his daughter Julie and his son Chris.
