In December 2019 we lost our friend and colleague David Cox who passed suddenly following a heart attack whilst recuperating from a motorcycle accident. With the COVID pandemic following shortly after this devastating blow, our plans to create an event in his honour were put on hold.

We aim to put this right in 2023. But rather than having a ‘one off’ event, we are looking to combine all of our fundraising efforts together in memory of David by engaging the whole team in a variety of activities over the next 12 months including:

We are challenging ourselves to raise 25k for charities and good causes, including the British Heart Foundation, between August 23 and July 24, which seems fitting as if there was one thing that he relished, it was a challenge!

David’s story

David Cox became a part of the TSK story way back in 1998 when he was appointed as a consultant to assist us to obtain the ISO9001 quality assurance standard, from that point his involvement was constant, helping us to implement the process and procedures necessary to achieve and maintain the ISO 14001 environmental management standard and the OHS 18001 Health & Safety Standard alongside various other projects that we tasked him with.

David’s ability to make complex problems appear simple was always a hugely valuable asset on any project but his impact on TSK was dramatically accelerated when, in 2014, we managed to convince him to leave his consultancy practice behind and join us ‘full time’ as our Operations Director.

He attacked the role in the same way he approached everything, total commitment, and very quickly made a real difference. His connection with people at every level of the business and also with our subcontractors and suppliers helped him to galvanise a team around any issue or project and his protection and fierce loyalty to anyone representing TSK made him a very popular leader. He genuinely saw our team as his extended family and would go out of his way to look after anyone wearing our badge.

‘Work hard, play hard’ was David’s approach, his farming upbringing gave him a mental toughness and resolve that was evident in all that he did, outside of work sport played a big role in his life, an accomplished distance runner he competed in marathons around the world, along with many other races throughout his adult life.

When he reached 50, instead of slowing down David decided to ratchet things up and completed 5 Iron Man events prior to his untimely death aged 56, no mean feat considering he didn’t learn to swim until his mid forties! He also got the TSK team involved, creating a running group, a swimming group and a number of cycling events inc the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride.

We intend to make the ‘David Cox Initiative’ a fitting tribute to a great man who left a lasting impression on TSK and all those that knew him. His legacy lives on.