W W INTERVIEW
L L
AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER BIBBY
Wirral Life talk to Wirral’s Peter Bibby of Liverpool’s legendary Bibby Line Group
Limited on family history, business and his love of Wirral.
The Bibby Line, the world’s oldest family owned
shipping company and the UK’s largest family owned
distribution company, was founded in 1807 by the first
John Bibby (1775–1840). He was a penniless Eccleston
farmer - who aged 25, came to Liverpool to become a
ship’s iron merchant. He spotted an opportunity and
tried his hand at shipping to reach overseas markets.
He became very successful before he was brutally
murdered for his pocket watch aged 65. The business
then passed to his sons, who continued to successfully
develop the business, which has continued as a shipping
line to this day. the young Bibby disagreed: in future years he was prepared to
borrow money, a calculated risk which some believe secured
the long-term future of the business. In 1986 Bibby succeeded
in the baronetcy on the death of his father. Six years later, aged
70, he became honorary president of the group. Derek Bibby’s
other main interest was the Birkenhead Boys’ Club, which he
supported from 1953 until his death. He married, in 1961,
Christine Okell, daughter of the Bishop of Stockport. They had
four sons and a daughter and resided in Wirral.
After some seriously stormy waters in the mid-1980s, the Bibby
brand intelligently diversified into financial services, haulage,
retail and private-equity-style investments in businesses. This
helped it to survive and grow while local rivals, such as Cunard
and White Star, disappeared or were swallowed up by others.
Bibby Line Group today is headed by the sixth generation of the
Bibby family, and is a £1.2 billion business, operating in more
than 20 countries and employing over 4,500 people in industries
including retail, offshore, financial services, distribution,
shipping, marine based businesses, and plant hire. Tell us a little about yourself.
I would consider myself a fun loving person, who enjoys a
challenge but lives a modest life, working hard and playing
hard. I lived in Willaston until my mum sold the family home
and made me homeless at nearly 40, then I went from being
young free and single to married with children in 2 years. I am
equally as at home at a lock-in in a rough Birkenhead pub as a
black tie ball at the polo club.
Peter’s Father, Sir Derek James Bibby was born at Hooton in
1922. He was the son of Major Sir Harold Bibby, who was
created a baronet in 1959. From 1935 to 1969 Sir Harold was
chairman of Bibby Line; he was also Deputy Lieutenant for
Cheshire and High Sheriff in 1934-5. After Rugby and Trinity
College, Oxford, where he read Economics, Derek Bibby
joined the Royal Artillery in the New Year of 1942. He was
commissioned a few days before his 20th birthday, and his unit
was posted to 331 battery of 133 Field Regiment of the 53rd
Welsh Division. For almost two years they were employed
on exercises at artillery ranges around Britain. Bibby fo