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08
Jan
Tributes paid to Brian Dunsby OBE, pillar of Harrogate's business community
Tributes have been paid to leading businessman Brian Dunsby OBE, who died suddenly at the weekend, at the age of 84.
One of the most dynamic and effective members of Harrogate’s business community, he served for 14 years as chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
He successfully campaigned for more direct Harrogate-to-London trains, as well as upgrading services on the Leeds-Harrogate-York line.
Mr Dunsby and his wife Beryl set up the Yorkshire Business Market, and later created Harrogate Christmas Market in 2012, running it very successfully for eight years.
In 2018, Mr Dunsby was awarded an OBE for services to business and the community in Harrogate.
Martin Mann, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:
Brian was a huge part of the Harrogate business community. He was a force for good, working tirelessly on projects that would improve life for so many people.
As well as the work he did publicly, there was much more that he and Beryl did for others that most people never knew about, such as volunteering with the Food Angels. His sheer determination and work ethic were unequalled.
Brian continued to be active and engaged in business throughout his life, attending his final full Chamber meeting along with Beryl in October, and a meeting with Leeds Bradford Airport in November. In his many years as our transport spokesman, he was as dedicated as he was with every role he undertook, encyclopaedic in his knowledge, and a formidable campaigner when he could see what needed to be done.
Brian's influence on the Chamber was evident to see when I joined in 2014 and he left it in fine form for those of us who have followed on from him since 2016. We will miss him terribly and will always be grateful for all that he did for us, and for Harrogate.
Steve Scarre worked closely with Mr Dunsby for many years, first as a member of the management committee of the Chamber of Commerce when Mr Dunsby was chief executive, and then as a fellow director of Harrogate Christmas Market.
He said:
Brian was a super guy. He was a very determined individual, and he upset a few people along the way because he was so determined to do things his way. But I can’t tell you how much he’s done for Harrogate’s business community.
I worked with him for eight years on the Harrogate Christmas Market – he was the instigator of that. It was a huge success, and attracted 700,000 people to Harrogate in November, which is usually the quietest time of the year.
Personally, he was such a friend. If I ever had any difficulty, he was the first person there. I can only speak highly of him. The true Brian cared – about business and about people. He even got an OBE for it, so other people clearly recognised that too.
I’ll remember him as a guy you could absolutely depend on. If he said he was going to do something, he’d do it, come what may. He was such an asset to Harrogate and the district. He’s going to be sadly missed.
A busy-looking Harrogate Christmas Market in 2019.
David Horne, managing director of rail operator LNER, said:
There are many people who campaign for the railway to do things, and Brian was one of the best.
I admire his efforts to promote rail travel to the Harrogate Line Supporters Group and wider community and we’ll miss his contribution.
An Azuma train speeding across Crimple Viaduct - a sight made more common by Mr Dunsby's campaign. Photo: LNER
Simon Kent, who was director of Harrogate Convention Centre from 2013 to 2019, said:
I used to regularly meet with Brian, because he was involved with so many things. I think the overriding thing he’ll be remembered for is his long-standing campaigns to improve rail services, both locally and on the East Coast Mainline – which were both successful.
When the [rail] franchise came up, Brian had meetings with all the rail companies, and he didn’t just lobby – he always had suggestions for how to improve the service and schedule more trains. His knowledge of the rail system was incredible.
Locally, he campaigned to get rid of the old Pacer trains to Leeds, and further afield, he fought to increase the number of direct trains from Harrogate to London from one a day to seven or eight. The fact that we got those trains is all down to Brian – he was relentless.
That’s what set him apart – his willingness to stand up and be counted. People didn’t always agree with him, but his passion for the town was incredible. He just really wanted Harrogate to succeed.
Around six LNER trains per day now run from Harrogate to London
Andrew Jones, the former MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said he was “saddened” to hear of Mr Dunsby’s death. He said:
Brian made a very significant contribution to our area. He was a fantastic voice for business, and his leadership of the Chamber was very effective. He was very good to work with.
He had interesting ideas on both road and rail, and made a major contribution to improving this area’s transport connections, something we campaigned for together. He was the head of the campaign for the Chamber on rail connections, and providing that voice for business was central to securing that service.
He also identified the need to attract more people to Harrogate and created the Christmas Market, which was a great success. His contribution to this area was huge.
Entrepreneur Mark Lancaster worked with Mr Dunsby to set up Harrogate Business Market, later Yorkshire Business Market, which attracted 100 exhibitors and 1,000 attendees each spring.
Mr Lancaster said:
The first time I met Brian was at a Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce meeting in 1999. Little did I know that we would work together for nearly 20 years on so many projects to develop the Chamber and actively promote Harrogate.
He was truly one of a kind, extremely dedicated to every project he was involved with and will be missed by the numerous organisations he and Beryl supported over the years. My deepest sympathies are with Beryl and the family.
Former Mayor of Harrogate John Fox worked with Mr Dunsby to raise funds for the town’s annual festive lights display through the voluntary group Harrogate at Christmas, which ran from 2012 until 2020, when the responsibility was passed to Harrogate BID.
Mr Fox said:
I recall meeting Brian Dunsby several times in my mayoral year, 2008-9. He was really committed to supporting local businesses and developing Harrogate.
It was the switch-on of the Harrogate Christmas lights that started our working relationship. Brian was keen to find a better way of funding the Christmas lights for Harrogate, which led to the formation of Harrogate at Christmas. We wanted to increase the number of visitors to the town further and Brian came up with the idea of the Harrogate Christmas Market.
Harrogatonians can be grateful to Brian for bringing the direct LNER service from London to Harrogate. Brian set up Harrogate Line Supporters Group campaigning for electrification and direct trains from Harrogate to London. It was due to their persistent campaigning under Brian’s leadership that we now have the excellent rail service to and from Harrogate.
Brian was a great friend and colleague for the last 17 years and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Beryl and their family at this very sad time.
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