26.12.2014

Dorothy Mort 1930-2014

We now have details of a memorial service to celebrate the life of Dorothy Mort, one of the pioneers of the UK powered access rental industry who died on December 19th. Dorothy Mort R.I.P Published at the end of this report.
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Dorothy Mort

Dorothy Martin was born in Port Talbot, Wales in May 1930 – one of four children of the town’s Butcher Jock Martin, she married David Mort in November 1952 and six years later the young couple established an equipment rental company Port Talbot Plant from the yard at the back of their house.

The two very much worked as a team and expanded the company steadily, and fairly early on added access rental to their activities, in the form of truck and van mounted lifts. Most importantly to the development of the business, they saw the potential of self-propelled lifts well before most other rental companies took it seriously. Contacts at the Port Talbot Steelworks certainly helped boost the business but they expanded to become the clear market leader in the UK under the PTP banner, a name more appropriate as the company expanded out of its local area.

In the early 1980s the market became rapidly more competitive as a good number of crane rental companies moved into the market boosting supply far faster than the increase in demand. A slowing economy exasperated the oversupply and rates were slashed. PTP held firm as a specialist against the newcomers which as the recession bit pulled out of the market leaving PTP stronger than ever.

In 1987 the couple decided to accept a takeover bid from BET Plant Services (The company was acquired from BET/Rentokil by Loxam in 2000) and then retired. In their late 50s they were young enough to enjoy and look forward to a long retirement and made the most of their shared passion for horse racing, travelling all over the world.
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The Morts, Dorothy and David - at Ascot - following their shared passion of racing

Dorothy was also a keen gardener and music enthusiast. She leaves behind, husband David – having celebrated their 62nd anniversary in November – two children Tony – an access entrepreneur in his own right and Catherine, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Dorothy Mort played a significant role in the early days of powered access rental, a quiet but strong business partner, she was much appreciated and respected by those who knew her and dealt with as a fair, trustworthy, unselfish and ready to do the right thing. She will certainly be missed by those who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 on Friday January 9th, at St Mary's Priory Church, Upper Church Street, Chepstow, Gwent NP16 5HA.
Enquiries please to: Funeral directors Philip Blatchly 01291-624939