The pilot killed in yesterday’s helicopter crash has been named as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire Mr Barry Dodd CBE.
The crashed happened close to the village of Aldbrorough, near Boroughbridge.
North Yorkshire Police said they received reports of a helicopter crash at 1.23pm on Wednesday, and officers together with fire and ambulance crews attended the scene.
There were no other passengers on-board.
A police spokesman said: “Sadly, following the helicopter crash near Aldborough yesterday, the pilot of the private aircraft was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Whilst we await formal identification, we believe he is Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Mr Barry Dodd CBE.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time and request that their privacy is respected.
“Mr Dodd’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
“Officers remain at the scene, alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, whilst investigations continue.”
Barry Dodd CBE was appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire in 2014 but he has been associated with the county and indeed with the county council for many years.
Barry was a highly successful entrepreneur and owned and ran a number of companies – including the creation of a multinational Global Services and Manufacturing Group with four manufacturing plants in the UK. He was Chairman and major shareholder in two high tech software and systems companies and a fast growing distributor of mobile computing products.
Throughout his business career, however, he has always given hugely of his time to public service and had a passion to help other people succeed in business; for creating employment in rural areas.
“Wherever he went Barry was a positive influence”, said County Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire’s Leader.
“He carried out his role as Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire with enormous dignity and pride; he added value wherever he went, helping other organisations and people – he will be greatly missed. He has been a personal friend of mine for the last 30 years and the county council has lost a great friend and champion.”
Barry Dodd was the first chair of the York and North Yorkshire with East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership and he was also Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council of the University of Hull and Chair of the joint Hull, York Medical School.
Past appointments have also included Chair of Yorkshire Forward, CONNECT Yorkshire and of the Yorkshire and Humber Sustainable Development Company and Vice Chair of Business Link, York and North Yorkshire.
“There are many businesses in North Yorkshire that are enjoying success and doing better through the work that Barry did with them,” said Richard Flinton, North Yorkshire County Council’s Chief Executive.
“He touched the lives of many people and was always encouraging. He was very passionate about public service and will be remembered for this great work. He will also be missed by many people in the county council who knew him personally as a very good friend and colleague.”
Julian Smith, Government Chief Whip and MP for Skipton and Ripon has worked closely with Barry Dodd for many years.
He said: “Barry was enormously liked by many people and helped a great number in the business and wider community. The scale of his work and public service was enormously impressive and his tragic death is a great loss to us all.”
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Such sad news. He was brilliant and very refreshing as the Lord Lieutenant. He attende many different events in Richmond during the last Mayoral Year. He was kind, thoughtful, down to earth and exceptionally generous to the communities of North Yorkshire.
He will be truly missed. My thoughts are with his lovely wife who must be struggling to come to terms with the news.
God Bless
Excellant report, Barry’s step father and Barry’s mother, Florida, USA. Thank you.