Motorcycling loses great ambassador
By TMX Archives on 8th Jul 15
Colin Appleyard MBE, one of Yorkshires best known and most respected businessmen and characters, has died aged 79. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, in Bradford Royal Infirmary surrounded by his family.
Colin began his career in 1951 as a motorcycle mechanic for Allan Jefferies and rose to Sales Director before leaving in October 1970 to set up his own dealership in Keighley. With the help of his wife, Peggy, the business grew into one of the country's leading motorcycle dealers.
Appleyard's was a hugely successful Suzuki motorcycle dealer and it was on the back of this success that the Japanese manufacturer asked Colin to launch Suzuki cars in Great Britain. From those modest beginnings in 1979 the company has grown to become the UK's largest and most successful Suzuki car dealerships with showrooms in Keighley, Huddersfield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Shipley.
In 2004, to celebrate Suzuki's 25th anniversary in the UK, Colin, along with other leading dealers, was invited to Japan to tour the country and visit the Hamamatsu factory. At the celebration dinner Colin, who was affectionately known by the Japanese directors as ‘Father of the Franchise', sat with Peggy on the top table alongside Mr Ono, son-in-law of the founder Mr Suzuki. He also gave a short speech and vote of thanks, part of which was in Japanese, much to the delight of his hosts.
In 1981 he bought a complete stock of Beamish Suzuki motorcycles and spares at a knock down price and promptly exported them to Japan. Under the headline ‘selling coals to Newcastle', the achievement was featured by Angela Rippon on national news
As well as starting and running a successful business Colin was also highly respected in the world of motorcycle sport and it was for his lifelong service to this sport that he was awarded an MBE in the 2013 Queen's New Year's Honours List.
As a young man he joined the Bradford and District Motor Club, going on to become their youngest committee member and later serving as president before he was given the honour of being made a life member.
His motorcycle racing career spanned two decades but he retired in 1969 to concentrate on managing the successful racing career of son Robin. Over the years Colin served as a director of the ACU and sat on their road race committee. He also served on a number of other motorcycle industry bodies.
Colin Appleyard Motorcycles sponsored many riders in off-road competition, supported many events and the Worth Way emporium became the go-to place in the north to do a deal in either trials or motocross. Colin was also a staunch supporter of TMX right from the paper's launch in 1977.
Despite failing health Colin remained active in the business until his last few weeks and on his final trip abroad to the Suzuki Conference in Amsterdam last December he was delighted to be given a standing ovation by the Suzuki dealer network when he received, for the sixth time, the Suzuki Dealer of the Year award.
Above all Colin was a devoted family man. Happily married to Peggy for 55 years, he was extremely proud of his daughter Judith, son Robin and grandchildren Cassie, Lauren, Jack and Ben plus great-granddaughters Louie and Ivy.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the York Suite for all the dedication and kindness caring for Colin during his final weeks.
The funeral is scheduled at 2pm, Thursday, July 9, at St Peter's Church, Moorhead Lane, Shipley BD18 4JN and afterwards at The Bankfield Hotel, Bingley.
