Peter Michael Dawson 1938 – 2024

Early life

Peter was born on 19^th September 1938, the second of three sons to Edward and Judith Dawson. Raised in Leighton Buzzard, a market town on the edge of Bedfordshire, Peter grew up in a happy family home, albeit beneath the cloud of war still raging in Europe.

Educated locally and later in Welwyn, Herefordshire, Peter left school aged 16 to study motor engineering, a subject which, ultimately, would help pave the way for much of his later success.

Having been awarded a B.Eng., he joined the family haulage business established in 1935 by his father. Alongside his brothers, Tony and Nicholas, the business expanded until, by 1970, the company’s operating fleet boasted over 200 HGVs, making it a significant independent operator.

The beginnings and growth of Dawsongroup

Instrumental in many of the company’s most successful developments, it was Peter who saw the opportunity that asset rentals provided, and in 1974 Dawsonrentals was launched.

The 1980s saw the establishment of Dawsongroup Limited, thereby bringing the company’s operations under a single corporate umbrella. A few years later, Peter became the sole shareholder of the group after his brothers decided to leave and establish successful businesses of their own. In 1988 he successfully floated the company on the stock market, shortly after which began the development of a new purpose-built head office in Milton Keynes. With a keen eye and a personal interest in property, Peter oversaw much of the design and detailing of the new building, which was formally opened in 1990, and which remains the group’s head office to this day.

Under his leadership the group continued to evolve and prosper over the coming years, with Peter’s constant appetite for growth soon distancing Dawsongroup from its competition.

By the mid 90’s, having spent two years in Holland to concentrate on European expansion, Peter made the decision to delist the business, and in 2000 returned it once again to 100% family ownership.

In his role as Executive Chairman, Peter always held his main board to account. His commitment and tenacity, alongside his values of honesty, integrity, and humility, underlined the fundamental principles expected of all directors and managers within the group, and set the tone for the company’s high standards and levels of conduct. These have been upheld by the group’s Chief Executive Steve Miller, who joined the company in 1986 and was appointed to the role of CEO in 2016. It was Steve who remarked that, ‘Peter has been extremely supportive of his main board and encouraged and guided them to share his vision of the future, which has resulted in numerous successful acquisitions, setting Dawsongroup apart from its competition. Peter’s influence can also be seen in the way he insisted on strong financial discipline, which has ensured a sustainable, robust, and secure business.’

Above all else and, despite this success, Peter remained a modest individual who took neither success nor money for granted. (His well-known quote of, ‘don’t count the profit until the cheque has cleared the bank’, remains a corporate mantra.)

Peter was also involved, along with Jackie and their children, in creating a Family Council to help with the group’s evolution and continued success.

Personal Life

In 1970 Peter met Jackie Moss, and the couple remained together ever since, raising three children of their own – Rouven, Freya, and Charles. With Freya having worked at Dawsongroup for the past 13 years and now currently a Main Board Director of Dawsongroup and Director of Group Property. Jackie, always dedicated and encouraging of Peter’s commitment to the business throughout their marriage, continues to be the family’s rock.

Fond of cars and motorsport since his early years, Peter took part in many races during the 1960’s, culminating in a 1965 Silverstone victory in an ex-works Austin Healey 3000. A passion for motorsport is something both his sons have inherited, with Rouven competing in the National Championship at Santa Pod Raceway, and Charles in the British and European GT Championship. A love of the English countryside and a keen interest in shooting also saw Peter enjoy many happy moments in the field with family and friends.

Throughout his life Peter remained a family man at heart, and it was undoubtedly his desire to ensure their prosperity that made him so focused on success. He was never happier than with Jackie, their children, grandchildren and two cocker spaniels Inky and Paws by his side. And perhaps a cigar.