An elderly man who built a multi-million-pound business empire with his beloved wife of 65 years died on the day of her funeral, their heartbroken son has revealed.
Joan and Bernard O’Malley, both 88, founded Nationwide Produce PLC in the mid 70s, with the company going on to become among the “largest, longest established, and most diverse produce companies in the UK”, their son Tim, who is the company’s Group Managing Director, said.
October was a doubly difficult month for the family, with Joan dying on Friday 11 following a short time in hospital and Bernard passing away on Wednesday, October 30, the day of Joan’s was laid to rest, Liverpool Echo reports.
Tim opened up about his parent’s love for each other and the birth of their company on its official Facebook page, writing: “Nationwide Produce PLC began life in September 1975 as Bernard O’Malley & Co. The “Co” was my mum.
“My dad did all the trading, my mum did the books. The office was a small room in a small 3 bedroom house in Southport with 4 young kids running around – 3 of them now in the business. Myself, Patrick and Anthony”.
Tim also offered an incredible insight into just how much the business has grown since those early days. “We still have the first set of accounts,” he wrote. “The business turned over £311,122 in its first year and made a small profit.
“This last financial year, Nationwide turned over £186m from 9 offices/depots/packhouses in 4 countries employing 300 staff,” he said.
“My dad never stopped talking about the business. First thing he would say whenever I saw him was ‘how’s the job?’. He loved the fruit & veg trade and was enormously proud of the business he created alongside my mum.
Tim said he’ll miss his father and his “boundless enthusiasm for the business but above all, I’ll miss his advice, his pearls of wisdom”.
Tim said across the decades they’d been together, the loved-up couple “hardly spent a night apart”, adding that they’re “back together now”.
Tributes to the couple flooded in in the comments, with one person writing: “Sorry to hear of your loss they will both be missed around the village.”
Another mourner offer her condolences “to all the O’Malley family on the passing of your dear parents sad times but a blessing they are reunited and not apart for long.
“My late husband worked many years delivering carrots from Norfolk to the London Markets for Nationwide, sending my thoughts and prayers to you all. God Bless,” she added.
A third said: “What a wonderful legacy they leave behind we are so grateful for all the support and loyalty you’ve given us and the farming community. My dad always had wonderful stories and memories of dealing with Bernard Sending our Condolences to you all x.”
