Unregistered
02-05-2005, 17:36
RAGS-TO-riches South Yorkshire car magnate Derek Cook has died in a motoring accident on holiday in the South of France.
The former miner who built up one of Britain's biggest motor companies was holidaying with his wife Winnie when they were involved in the accident in Monaco.
The couple, who live in Wath, are understood to have travelled to the South of France to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Details of the accident, which happened at the weekend, are still sketchy, but it is understood that Mrs Cook was injured and is currently in hospital. French police are still investigating what happened.
The couple have four children who were due to have joined them in France for the birthday celebrations. They have now flown out there.
Mr Cook started out in business in Wath selling car spares in the front room of a house - and went on to become a legend in motor retailing.
He was one of the first people in the UK to start selling Japanese-made Datsun cars, opening a dealership in his home town.
From there he went on to build up a huge network of car dealerships, amassing a fortune. But in 2001 his empire collapsed. He was said to be over £20 million in debt and hundreds of employees lost their jobs.
After that he took a back seat while his son David and daughter Paula set up a new business, DC Cook Direct, selling cut price new cars in Fitzwilliam Road, Rotherham.
Mr Cook was the son of a self-employed baker and learned the art of selling in the back of his dad's bakery van.
He failed his 11-plus but excelled at sport, eventually representing Yorkshire in football and athletics. He was also a keen bodybuilder.
He opened his first spares business the day after his wedding in 1966 at the age of 19. By the 1980s when he floated his DC Cook car dealership he had become a millionaire.
Last month it was reported that Mr Cook had agreed to sell 53 per cent of his internet car business Motor Solutions to Virgin for an undisclosed sum but which is believed to have been a multi-million pound deal.
Mr Cook remained chief executive of Virgin cars and was to expand the business with another 12 car sales outlets in the UK, including one for Sheffield.
He said at the time: "Although it is only nine months since we acquired a controlling interest in Virgin cars the offer we have received to buy it back was so good we could not refuse. This is because in that nine months we have grown the business to such an extent, selling 2,000 cars a month, Virgin wanted to have a controlling interest.
"I was thinking of retiring but I have decided to carry on as chief executive."
Mr Cook also said his family would continue to operate the DC Cook Direct car supermarkets in Rotherham and Manchester.
02 May 2005
The former miner who built up one of Britain's biggest motor companies was holidaying with his wife Winnie when they were involved in the accident in Monaco.
The couple, who live in Wath, are understood to have travelled to the South of France to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Details of the accident, which happened at the weekend, are still sketchy, but it is understood that Mrs Cook was injured and is currently in hospital. French police are still investigating what happened.
The couple have four children who were due to have joined them in France for the birthday celebrations. They have now flown out there.
Mr Cook started out in business in Wath selling car spares in the front room of a house - and went on to become a legend in motor retailing.
He was one of the first people in the UK to start selling Japanese-made Datsun cars, opening a dealership in his home town.
From there he went on to build up a huge network of car dealerships, amassing a fortune. But in 2001 his empire collapsed. He was said to be over £20 million in debt and hundreds of employees lost their jobs.
After that he took a back seat while his son David and daughter Paula set up a new business, DC Cook Direct, selling cut price new cars in Fitzwilliam Road, Rotherham.
Mr Cook was the son of a self-employed baker and learned the art of selling in the back of his dad's bakery van.
He failed his 11-plus but excelled at sport, eventually representing Yorkshire in football and athletics. He was also a keen bodybuilder.
He opened his first spares business the day after his wedding in 1966 at the age of 19. By the 1980s when he floated his DC Cook car dealership he had become a millionaire.
Last month it was reported that Mr Cook had agreed to sell 53 per cent of his internet car business Motor Solutions to Virgin for an undisclosed sum but which is believed to have been a multi-million pound deal.
Mr Cook remained chief executive of Virgin cars and was to expand the business with another 12 car sales outlets in the UK, including one for Sheffield.
He said at the time: "Although it is only nine months since we acquired a controlling interest in Virgin cars the offer we have received to buy it back was so good we could not refuse. This is because in that nine months we have grown the business to such an extent, selling 2,000 cars a month, Virgin wanted to have a controlling interest.
"I was thinking of retiring but I have decided to carry on as chief executive."
Mr Cook also said his family would continue to operate the DC Cook Direct car supermarkets in Rotherham and Manchester.
02 May 2005