Former managing director of J. R. Marriott, Newark, managing passes away aged 88

A businessman born and raised in Newark has died at the age of 88.

Gerald Dickens, former managing director of J. R. Marriott, worked full-time at the family business ­— now being run by its fifth generation ­— from when he joined in 1953 until he retired at 82 after being diagnosed with dementia.

Gerald met his wife Jean at the Palais de danse in Nottingham and had a son, Clifford, and daughter, Diane Bailey.

Diane said: “My dad’s main thing of his life was work, but he did coach for Newark’s swimming club in the 70s and 80s, and he was president of the swimming club.

“The family will miss him, but we have lots of lovely memories.”

Although the family business formed in 1951, its story started more than 70 years ago in 1919 when Gerald’s grandfather, Herbert Dickens, bought his first horse and cart and started H. Dickens and Sons on Barnbygate, Newark.

Gerald’s father Charles and his uncles James and Arthur joined Herbert and by 1936 they had a fleet of horse-drawn carts and trucks operating in the area.

After the second world war the company was struggling with a shortage of motor vehicles and in 1949 the business was acquired by the British Transport Commission with the advent of nationalised British Road Services.

The three brothers had predicted this and were already in negotiations with the executors of the late Jackie Marriott to buy the business of coal merchant and haulage contractor at Collingham, and so J. R. Marriott (Collingham) Ltd was formed in 1951.

Gerald and his brother Robert moved the company from Collingham and Barnbygate to its current location on Brunel Drive in 1986.

In 1993, Gerald’s son Clifford joined the company and now runs it alongside with Gerald’s son-in-law Stewart.

Gerald leaves behind his wife, two children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A date has not yet been set for the funeral.