30.08.2004

Bill Boulton 1932 - 2004

Bill Boulton chairman of UK crane conglomerate BET Plant Services in the 1980s and early 1990s has died aged 72.

Boulton went on an international buying spree at BET acquiring a range of scaffolding and access rental companies in the USA and consolidating the UK crane hire industry, adding to its Grayston Crane hire business. Acquisitions included JD White, Scott Greenham and G W.Sparrow & Sons among others.
He left the business in June 1993 after the recession had hit BET badly with its massive debt pile.

He went on to head up the acquisition of Lorne Stewart from BET by the Rezayat family - the Sparrows Crane partner in Saudi Arabia. He was also involved in the buy out of Rentair from BET in 1996 as part of a management buy in funded by Equistone.

We understand that his passing was very sudden and occurred during a game of golf. Not a bad way to go.