John O’Carroll Bailey

It is with tremendous sadness that BMJ reports the death of John O’Carroll Bailey.

Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants from 2007 to 2008, John was also a Past President of the Builders Merchants Federation, a role he held from June 2000 to June 2001.

He became managing director of Midlands independent builders merchants Niall Bailey in 1989, taking the role over from his brother when the latter retired. He remained managing director until 1999 when he sold the business to Buildbase – part of the Grafton Group – becoming a director of the wider group.

He was also a director of the Builders Merchants Training Trust and United Merchants plc.

He leaves a wife, Jean, a son, Tom and daughter, Dominique and two grandsons and two granddaughters.

BMJ Editor-in-Chief Fiona Russell-Horne said: “John was a lovely man, passionately committed to his business and his family. I will never forget the first time I interviewed him, when his business, Niall Bailey, had been short-listed for a BMJ Merchant Marketing Award. He was so enthusiastic about showing me every aspect of the business as he was, justifiably, proud of it and all the people working there. A good man, who will be missed.”