Bartrums in Eye honours driving force behind family-run business

A family-run logistics firm, which was founded nearly 100 years ago, has honoured one of its own.

Bartrums in Eye has unveiled a new truck, swelling its fleet of more than 160 vehicles, in honour of former managing director Philip Bartrum.

Mr Bartrum, who died last year, held the top job for more than 40 years and is credited with playing a significant part in the sustained growth of the family-run firm.

The business, which started with just one truck in 1929, is now one of the longest-running logistics suppliers in the country.

Tremayne Johnson, operations director at Bartrum, said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, Philip was the main driving force behind building the business when he and his brothers took over.

“He led the business during its most significant period of growth as managing director from 1966 through to the early noughties.”

In that time, he also negotiated and agreed a national contract with Boots in 1967 for an operation which grew to six national distribution centres and became Bartrums’ biggest contract.

Mr Johnson continued: “At his side throughout this period were his two brothers, Roger and Roy, and, between the three of them, they very much put Bartrums on the map.

“In appreciation of Philip and Bartrums’ history and heritage, the new truck will take to the road in our historic livery colour of brown and white, with a personalised number plate F25 BRS, a nod to the name of the company – Bartrums Road Services – when Philip took the helm.

“And there will also include a dedication to ‘Philip E Bartrum 1937-2024’ on the front panel of the truck, just above the grille, in honour of someone who gave pretty much his entire working life to Bartrums.”

Following a call-up for national service after finishing school, Mr Bartrum spent two years with RAF Logistics before joining Bartrums to work for his father, Leonard, in 1957.

The family legacy continues to this day, with his son, Robert, at the helm as joint managing director.

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