Keighley obituary (From Keighley News)

Keighley obituary

8:40am Thursday 4th February 2010

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Chris Gibson — who retired last month as managing director of Burgess Ford, in Keighley — has died after a long battle against cancer.

Mr Gibson, who joined the company 37 years ago, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006.

Despite his illness, until recent months he continued to go into work each day. He officially retired on January 4, his 65th birthday.

This week Jon Hudson, the company secretary and a recently appointed director of the motor dealership, paid tribute to his former colleague.

“He started here as a general manager in January 1973 and I came in December 1974 so we spent many years working together.

“Chris had been suffering with the illness for some time but remained a director of the company and until three or four months ago worked most days. He was a very proud man and very straight with people. He will be sadly missed.”

Mr Gibson was also actively involved with Keighley Training Consortium, a charity which helps fund educational trips for young people. He was founder chairman of the organisation and remained a board member until his death.

Fellow consortium member Mick Milner, chairman and managing director of Keighley castings producer Leach & Thompson, said: “Chris did a huge amount of charitable work but did it quietly and didn’t seek limelight.

Mr Gibson was born in north London and on leaving school joined the Ford motor company, at Dagenham, as an errand boy, before working his way up through the management ranks.

He had been married to Sue for 39 years and they have two sons, Andrew, 34, and David, 28, and a six-year-old grandson, Harry. David said: “My dad absolutely loved his work and loved working in Keighley.”

Mr Gibson, who lived in Menston, had been a member of the Freemasons at Bingley for about 14 years and frequently visited other lodges across the area.

His funeral service — at St John’s Parish Church, Menston, on Tuesday, at 2pm — will be followed by a private cremation.

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