The man behind one of Yorkshire’s greatest business success stories has passed away.
Jack Tordoff MBE, chairman of car dealership chain JCT600, died on Sunday at the age of 86, following a lengthy illness.
He was instrumental in building JCT600 - taking its name from his initials and a beloved Mercedes-Benz - going from a single workshop and filling station in Bradford into a leading dealership representing 25 brands in several counties.
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In a career spanning 71 years he went on to employ 2,300 people, generating sales of £1.3 billion from the North East to Nottinghamshire.
Jack’s father Edward started the business, originally called Tordoff Motors, in 1946 along with two other partners. He passed away four years later, when Jack was just 14 years old. Mr Tordoff left school at 15 to start work as an apprentice motor mechanic in the business. Returning to it after completing national service, where he reached the rank of corporal, he borrowed £1,000 from his mother to buy out the remaining two original partners, and began selling cars.
As well as JCT600’s success being recognised with a host of awards, Mr Tordoff was awarded an MBE in 2007/2008 and an OBE in 2018. He was also an honorary life president at Bradford City Football Club.
He took The Bantams out of administration in 1983 and was chairman for four years, helping to rebuild the stadium after the fire. The company has been the main sponsor for Bradford City for the past 10 years.
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When receiving his OBE three years ago, Mr Tordoff said: “I’m fortunate to have enjoyed a fantastic career and I am tremendously proud of what we have created at JCT600. To have now been given this award by Her Majesty is the ultimate honour and I believe testament to the hard work, grit and enterprise for which Yorkshire is famous.
“I am very grateful to the people who work with me every day, both past and present, and who have helped me to grow JCT600 into Yorkshire’s biggest private company and to achieve this honour. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them all – they are the best.
“I am Bradford born and bred and have never lost sight of my roots or how important it is for successful companies to give back to their local communities. With my children and grandchildren now working in the business, I know that we will stick to the values which have set us apart and continue to always put the customer first. I remain a proud Yorkshireman, and never more so than today.”
Married to Jean for 66 years, Mr Tordoff had three children – Lesley (deceased), Ian and John, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
As well as selling cars, he also raced them, competing in rallies in Britain and Europe during the Sixties and Seventies with considerable success, including a victory in the International Circuit of Ireland Rally in 1973 driving a Porsche 2.7RS, the first international rally win for this iconic car.
His grandson, Sam, has continued his motor racing tradition, with many race wins in a number of disciplines, including the Porsche Carrera Cup and the British Touring Car Championship.
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He has passed in the 75th year of JCT600, now with a purpose-built head office and training centre based in Apperley Bridge, between Bradlford and Leeds.
The family said Mr Tordoff was immensely proud of having helped to create one of the largest and most highly respected privately owned motor groups in the 海角视频 and the largest private company in Yorkshire.
He saw the continuation of JCT600 as a family business as one of his greatest achievements, with his youngest son, John, leading the company as chief executive, his eldest son Ian also being a director and seven grandchildren all working within the business.