UK specialist transport engineering systems manufacturer SEVERN-LAMB, have announced that former Chairman and Chief Executive, Michael Severn Lamb has sadly passed away, aged 63.
Michael lost his battle with a rare form of cancer on February 7th 2011, following his diagnosis in November last year. A civil ceremony in celebration .jpg)
of his life and achievements was held on February 16th 2012.
The son of Severn-Lamb founder Peter Severn Lamb and his wife Rita, Michael (left) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and began his career as an interior designer. He later joined family concern Severn-Lamb as Chairman and Chief Executive after the death of his father in 1975.
Michael took the transport engineering company from being a relatively small model making business and developed it into a major player in the worldwide leisure transportation industry. Under his leadership, Severn-Lamb prospered, supplying miniature trains and other transport systems to companies in the UK and across the globe.
Severn-Lamb has since supplied equipment to well–known names such as the UK’s Drayton Manor Theme Park and the Walt Disney Company. The company went on to build even more impressive trains in addition to “highly sophisticated monorail systems and specialist road vehicles.”
This led the company to an international reputation for its exceptional designs in transport engineering, along with the skill, proficiency and loyalty of its workers. It further led Michael to be named Businessman of the Year in 1995 and Severn-Lamb to the prestigious Queen’s Award for Export in the same year. Michael collected this award from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Severn-Lamb continued to go from strength-to-strength during the 2000s and Michael retired from the company in 2004 due to ill health, at which point his eldest son Patrick took the helm.
Paying tribute to Michael, friend and industry colleague Colin Bryan, managing director of Drayton Manor Theme Park, said: “The connection with Severn-Lamb began in 1971 when they supplied us with their first Rio Grande train along with what were called Drayton coaches, which are still used today.”
“Michael’s father was an excellent engineer and when Michael took over the company he showed a great ability to adapt what his father did to the changing requirements of the industry, as well as continuing to manufacture and develop the company and its products and services further.”
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of discussions and great friendship with Michael over the years and now with his son Patrick at the helm, Severn-Lamb continues to help us with a variety of projects on the park and with various service and maintenance contracts. Our families always had a connectivity and continue to do so through the work they do for us.”
Michael leaves a widow, Francoise, two sons, Patrick and Richard, and two grandchildren, Harrison and Olly.
Severn-Lamb was established in 1947 and has remained a family concern ever since. Based near Stratford-upon-Avon, the company’s involvement with the design, manufacture and maintenance has led them to an internationally renowned reputation for quality and innovation.
Their global customer base has seen them supplying products to theme parks, amusement attractions, heritage sites, museums, family entertainment centres and much more.
