Barrie Ward of dealership WM Plant passed away peacefully on Thursday 1st September with his wife. Jill and daughters Rosie and Sam by his side.

Barrie Ward pictured in WM Plant's showroom for a profile in the November / December 2019 edition of Service Dealer magazine on the occasion of the business's 50th anniversary

Barrie completed a BSC Honours degree in Chemical Engineering and Fuel Technology at Sheffield University. Upon completing his degree, he was offered a lucrative position with Shell working within the oil industry, however he decided to start WM Plant. On Monday 11th August 1969 he began operating a Shawnee Poole dump-truck bought with savings building the M6 between Penrith and Carlisle in Cumbria. He quickly realised there was a market for hiring out non-operated machinery from Stihl Cutquiks to JCB’s. 

Initially operating out of his mum’s house just outside of Carlisle, he went onto to build the current premises which WM Plant still occupies on Rosehill Industrial Estate in 1972.

The hire fleet grew overtime as well as the addition of sales and repairing construction and horticultural machinery.

Diamond drilling was a growing part of WM Plant’s business in the UK during the 80’s and 90’s. 

In 1997 Barrie and his wife Jill opened a similar business to WM Plant on the Isle of Man having regularly travelled to the Island to fulfil diamond drilling contracts. The business was eventually sold to GAP, the national hire company. 

53 years later the business has grown and developed, weathering recessions and enjoying the boom times.

He will be greatly missed by the team at WM Plant.