Published at 16:33, Wednesday, 09 January 2013

THE legacy of an accountant who has died in Thailand will live on in the name of a Barrow car dealership.

GOOD REPUTATION: Former co-owner Kevin Guy at Guy Perry Ltd Peugeot dealership

It is believed Kevin Guy suffered a stroke and was injured in a car crash in the South East Asian country – and was in hospital for several weeks before he died.

He had lived in Thailand for the past couple of years, but spent a significant portion of his career in Barrow as co-owner of Guy Perry Ltd Peugeot dealership.

Along with business partner Brian Perry, Mr Guy bought the company, formerly known as Lakeland Motor Services, from Lakeland Pennine Ltd in the summer of 1994.

Former colleague, and present Guy Perry Ltd co-owner Alan Pattinson, bought the company from Mr Guy and his business partner around 11 years ago, but the dealership has retained the same name.

Mr Pattinson, who co-owns the business with Phil Preston, said he had not seen Mr Guy since he left the dealership in 2006.

He estimated he would have been in his 60s.

Mr Pattinson said: “He was my business partner for four years, but I’ve been here well over 20 years, right through all the changes.

“Customers would never know him because he was an accountant and always in the back office. He was a nice man and, work-wise, he was very efficient at what he did.”

Mr Pattinson said Mr Guy, who was originally from Torquay, lived by himself in Cartmel during his career in Barrow and was a big cricket fan and keen motorcyclist.

He had been a talented cricket wicketkeeper in his younger days when he played in South Devon.

Mr Pattinson said he heard of his former colleague’s death via Mr Perry, who is now in Exeter, and Mr Guy’s friends in Cartmel.

He said there had never been a need to change the Guy Perry company name because of its strong reputation.

“The company had a good name and was well known for many years, so we kept it,” said Mr Pattinson.

“So you could say it’s a legacy, and the company survives under the leadership of myself and Phil Preston.”

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