Gordon Wilson Bridge OBE
In memory of Gordon Bridge who passed away on Thursday 26th of May at St. Luke’s hospice in Sheffield surrounded by his wife and two daughters, at the age of 76.
St. Luke’s was just one of numerous Sheffield organisations and institutions that benefited hugely from Gordon’s support, assistance and guidance during his lifetime.
Gordon joined AESSEAL plc in Rotherham in 1995 and served as a Director until he finally stepped down from The AES Board in 2018 at the age of 72.
During much of Gordon’s long career and public service, he was one of, if not the, best known businessmen in South Yorkshire and certainly generally the most liked and admired.
From school at King Edwards in Broomhill and after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, like so many of that Sheffield generation, Gordon went to work in the steel industry with British Steel. Rising rapidly he next joined Tempered Spring as Commercial Director.
During the troubled decade of the 1980’s, many Sheffield Cutlery Companies, along with many other famous industrial names, failed, but by taking over the helm of Richardson Sheffield as Managing Director, Gordon transformed its fortunes. So much so that Richardson became a byword in Sheffield that there was hope for the future of some traditional Sheffield industries.
In 1995 Gordon joined AESSEAL plc as Chief Executive and soon thereafter main board Director of AES Engineering Ltd the holding company. He served AES with great distinction and of the very many public functions in his life, his very last was to raise the flag just four weeks ago, commemorating AES’s industry leading achievement of The Queen’s Award for Sustainability.
Gordon volunteered for and held numerous public posts such was his determination to contribute to the wider community and from the esteem in which he was held. A few of his roles are highlighted below:
He was Chairman of the Herbert Hughes Charitable Trust, Board Member of the United Learning Trust and Trustee of the J. G. Graves Charitable Trust. Gordon served on the CBI’s Regional Council for several years and was a member of the Council of the University of Sheffield, chairing its Careers Advisory Board. He previously served as Chairman of Governors at the Sheffield Academies, Park and Springs. Gordon received an Honorary Degree from the University of Sheffield in 2009. Gordon took over the role of Museums Sheffield’s voluntary Chair of Trustees from November 2012 having first joined Museums Sheffield’s Board of Trustees in 2010.
Gordon was appointed Master Cutler for 2007/2008. During his year in office, he devised The Cutler’s Challenge to raise large sums for charity, by inspiring Companies each year to accept the challenge to see how much money they could raise. This continues year by year.
Chris Rea Managing Director of the AESSEAL group of companies said:
Gordon Bridge helped create the two largest privately-held companies in Rotherham and Sheffield but he also volunteered in any spare time for many South Yorkshire institutions. The world has lost a special person and a true gentleman who adored his family and who we feel for at this time of great sadness.
