Thornycroft (1862) in administration following founder's fatal accident

Thornycroft (1862), the parent company of Newage Transmissions, Cadman (Contractors) and Saville Tractors, has gone into administration following the death of founding director Andy Ross in a shooting accident.

Ross was killed on a 291ha estate in Scotland owned by his company. His fellow directors in the family-run firm called in administrator BDO Stoy Hayward to provide stability.

BDO said all the subsidiary companies are running as normal and it is conducting an immediate review of the business including the head office operation in Huntingdon. A spokeswoman said no redundancies have been announced, but could not confirm Thornycroft's liabilities, put by some at £13m.

Thornycroft headed a consortium that recently took control of Case dealer Saville Tractors. Case said it was more than satisfied with its past and current financial arrangements with Saville Tractors.

Newage supplies transmissions to a number of plant manufacturers, including Thwaites dumpers, while Essex-based earthmoving, plant hire and crane specialist Cadman (Contracts) has recently put in orders for £3m-worth of equipment from Caterpillar, JCB and Terex.

Both companies are trading as usual. While on a duck shoot, Ross was reported to have put his gun between his feet to search for something in his pockets. The gun went off, hitting him in the side of the head.

[Contract Journal, 13 September 2006, p 3]