21.01.2015
Sydney Appleyard 1949 -2015
We have received the sad news that UK crane veteran Syd Appleyard has passed away after losing his fight with cancer. He was 66.
Appleyard is probably best known for his time spent with Select Plant Hire part of the Laing O’Rourke Group. He joined the company in 2001 as operations manager. His most recent role was performance manager at Select Lifting Solutions, prior to which he held the same post at Select Plant, where he was heavily involved with forming the partnership with Comedil tower cranes and taking the company to market leadership.
He became involved with the tower crane industry in the 1970s while working as an owner truck driver with a company located next door to Stanley Davies tower cranes, which became a part of Hewden Stuart. In 1980 he joined the company, as a tower crane operator and erector, working his way up to the post of operations director. He eventually left the company in 2001 to do the same thing at Select Plant.
He was a respected expert on tower cranes and served as chairman of the CPA Tower Crane Interest Group for a number of years. He knew the industry inside out, having started his career as a tower crane erector at Hewden Stuart when it was the Wolff crane dealer for the UK. He was later promoted to crane erection supervisor before joining the senior management team in 1984.
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He was always willing to take time to talk speak to people looking to learn more about the industry, and was a quiet but highly knowledgeable guide to the Vertikal Press when conducting research or compiling information for feature articles. Our staff spoke with him extensively late last year, when he was well aware of his prognosis. In spite of that he was patient, helpful and informative.
The UK tower crane industry has lost one of its leading lights.
We will update this tribute to one of the UK’s leading tower crane men as soon as we receive further information.
alex glover
Having work with Syd over many years in the crane game, when at Hewdens and then Select he was good at his job, we also had good times drinking at the light house due in London were we gave generously to charity.
He will be well missed by every one who knew him in the crane industry my thoughts are with his family at the very sad time.
Another iconic figure from the Tower crane industry that will be sadly missed. Always very supportive and performed his role as a performance manager to the highest standards at Select. Our hearts and thoughts go to Darren and family.
Crane01
Very sad news.
Syd was a true gentleman and always dealt very fairly with us in his days at Hewden.
A very respected and well liked statesman of the crane industry.
Thoughts go to Darren and family.