OBITUARY: COLIN APPLEYARD MBE 1935-2015
It is with great sadness that we must report the death of Colin Appleyard, doyen of Yorkshire motorcycle dealers and a hugely respected figure throughout the industry. Colin passed away on Tuesday 30 June, with his wife Peggy, son Robin and daughter Judith at his bedside. All of us at British Dealer News wish the Appleyard family our sincerest condolences.
Colin’s stellar career in the bike business began in 1951, when he joined Allan Jefferies Motorcycles of Shipley as an apprentice mechanic. Moving from workshop to showroom, he became a salesman and eventually sales director at the Jefferies concern.
In 1970, Colin left Jefferies to set up his own dealership in nearby Keighley, which has since prospered mightily. The Colin Appleyard chain of motorcycle and automotive outlets now turns over more than £35m annually. After a long relationship with Honda on the bike side expired, it now represents Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, as well as a nationally-renowned specialisation in used Honda Goldwings and trikes.
An enthusiasm for motorcycling extended to racing from very early in Colin’s professional involvement. He personally competed on solos during the 1950s and then sidecars in the 1960s. That love of the sport never waned and he subsequently established a race team to support the endeavours of his son. In the family colours, Robin Appleyard went on to win seven British 125 Championships before moving up to an international level as a 250 Grand Prix contender.
When Robin hung up his leathers, the team continued to focus on developing young British talent. Now run by Robin Appleyard, who is also managing director of his father’s dealer chain, it currently fields Yamaha-mounted Danny Webb in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. However, Colin was always there too, and has been described by British Superbikes organisational supremo Stuart Higgs in a tribute as “the father of the BSB paddock with his humour and viewpoint of which everyone took note”.
Colin Appleyard was an exceptional businessman, who worked tirelessly to improve his own enterprises. He was also a fine advocate on behalf of the industry as a whole. He will be sorely missed and deeply mourned by his many friends and admirers throughout the trade.