Name Dave Tyndall, | Died June 30, 2006 | |
Dave P. Tyndall Jr., (3 March 1917 – 30 June 2006), whose full name was David Patrick Tyndall Jr., was a leading Irish businessman in the 20th century, who started out in a family business with his eponymous father and eldest brother William, and played an important role in helping modernise the wholesale and retail grocery trade, consolidate it, and enable the family grocery shop owner adapt to the advent of supermarkets. He also played a key role at the head of several business organisations, was a world traveller and amateur pilot, who also featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man ever to fly a helicopter solo.
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Family background
He was a son of Sarah (née Gaynor) and David P. Tyndall (Sr.). He married Molly (née Kettle) in September 1949, and they had four children: Mona, Mary, Pauline and Vivian.
Career in Business
He was known for his keen sense of opportunity and strategic vision, and his success at mergers and acquisitions earned him the nickname "Take-over Tyndall" in Irish business circles. Known as a caring employer, he absorbed many of the employees of wholesalers who closed down (Hugh, Moore & Alexander, Shirley Spence & Belford, McMaster, Hodgson, R. Jones & Co.), and introduced a bonus incentive scheme, and a scheme of non-contributory pensions for all employees. He lay behind the first initiative of an Irish wholesale group to establish a bonded warehouse to expand their wine & spirits business.
After his father's retirement, and in close collaboration with his older brother William, he expanded the Tyndall interests to include retail stores, through joint ventures for self-service stores across Ireland. Their reputation for honesty and loyal relationships with banks and insurance companies guaranteed them support in times of need, such as when damages were incurred due to floods or fire, etc. They successfully resisted a 25% takeover bid by Irish businessman Tony O'Reilly in 1971. Eventually they sold AWL to Joshua Watson Ltd., and Dave joined its board. It was later taken over by Irish Distillers, who were later taken over in 1988 by Pernod-Ricard.
The Tyndall brothers continued to maintain their other interests, William retired in 1980 and Dave retired in 1984, after fifty-one years in the grocery business.
Dave's aviation interests included an active involvement (President) with the Leinster Aero Club, currently based in TREVET (EITT), near Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. The Leinster Aero Club was founded in 1956 and originally based at Weston Aerodrome. In 1964, the club re-located to Dublin Airport, where it existed until relocating back to Weston in 2004. In 2006, the club moved to Trevet Airfield, a newly licensed field near Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. There are over 50 members in the club ranging from SPLs, PPLs, CPLs, ATPLs and Instructors. The club has a proud history of success stories – several members have gone on to become professional pilots with various airlines around the world.