FH Brundle announces death of Richard Brundle
It is with great sadness that wrought iron and steel products supplier FH Brundle has announced the death of proprietor Richard Frank Brundle MBE, at the age of 78.
Richard’s son Michael writes that his father was the fourth generation of this family business and joined FH Brundle at the age of 16, in 1956. Apart from a short spell in a different career in his twenties, he worked in the business all the way through to the day before he passed away.
Michael says Richard thoroughly enjoyed developing FH Brundle over the past 60 years, and didn’t want to retire; he particularly loved the relationships he formed with customers, employees and suppliers. Everyone knew him for being well dressed, as well as his honest, straightforward approach to business and friendly nature – always with time for a chat.
When Richard joined FH Brundle in 1956, his grandfather, great uncle and father ran the company. They had 12 employees on a single site in Dalston, London. Fast-forward to December 2017 and the company now employs over 270 people in 10 different sites across the UK, offering nationwide distribution on a fleet of over 60 of its own vehicles. With focus and vision, Richard managed to continue to grow the family business through some very challenging times and events.
The business was originally founded in 1889 supplying nails and packing case fittings to the docks in East London. At that time the docks shipped goods in wooden crates to the British Empire and all around the world. Horseshoes were added to the range very early on, and at one stage it was rumoured that every horse in London was wearing shoes supplied by FH Brundle!
In the 1950s, just as Richard joined FH Brundle, the sales of horseshoes and packing case fittings disappeared almost overnight, with the advent of motorised vehicles and the development of cheaper alternative packing products. The business had to diversify quickly and went from selling wire nails to lengths of wire in coils or straight lengths. This was supplied to wire workers making window guards, lampshade frames, baskets and retail point of sale display stands. From the sale of wire, Richard saw the opportunity to sell a new product called welded wire mesh to the market, and from the success of this range diversified into other specialist forms of sheet steel such as expanded metal and perforated metal.
Richard’s father Frederick Frank Brundle retired in 1984, and from that point onwards, the steady expansion of FH Brundle began. Richard opened his first warehouse outside of London in 1988, in Nottingham. Since then the company has continued to expand the network of branches across the UK. The business also diversified into new product ranges such as wrought iron components, hand railing systems, steel fencing and steel sections. Today, it supplies more than 8,500 product lines.
Michael Brundle first came to work with his father Richard at nine years old, during the school holidays. This part-time holiday job continued until Michael joined full time in 1998, where he has worked alongside his father ever since. He strives to operate a well-run business that offers customers a friendly and reliable service as well as high quality products, continuing the great legacy of his father.
A private family funeral service has already taken place, with a memorial service to be held in London in early May. All who knew Richard and would like to pay their respects are welcome to attend. If you would like information on the ceremony nearer the time then please email marketing@brundle.com
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Article supplied by:
FH Brundle
Tel: 01708 25 35 45
Email: sales@brundle.com
Web: http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk