Obituary: Colin Biffa

He joined the then family company, Richard Biffa Ltd, directly after National Service in 1958 at the age of 21 and worked there for his whole working life.

Colin was educated at Berkhamsted School, which he attended together with his younger cousins Richard and Robert Biffa. A very keen and competitive sportsman he excelled at swimming, cricket and fives.

In later life he became a keen golfer and ultimately became Captain of Beaconsfield Golf Club and was instrumental in encouraging and supporting Luke Donald who was then at school, but later left for university in the US before become a professional. He was also interested in motor racing and classic cars, several of which he restored. He was at one time Chairman of the Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain.

During his career at Biffa, latterly to be renamed Biffa Waste Services, the company grew to become the UKs largest UK waste management company.

Legendary

At various times Colin managed and developed the Building Materials Division, the Truck Distribution Division and later the Equipment Procurement Division. Colins knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the waste industry was legendary and the companys fleet of trucks and plant was for many years truly exemplary.

Family and colleagues note that Colin was always the perfect gentleman and a man of great integrity. He was popular not only with his work colleagues but also his many friends and business acquaintances. He was also extremely entertaining and amusing.

Colin lived for most of his married life in Beaconsfield and will be missed not only by his family but his many friends and acquaintances. He is survived by his wife Gillian and daughters Karen and Virginia.

Commenting on Mr Biffa’s death, Biffa chief executive, Ian Wakelin, said: Whilst I did not know Colin personally I do know there are a great number of people within Biffa who worked alongside Colinfor many years.

“He will be remembered with great fondness by these people as a man of integrity and decency and as someone who played a major part in the early development of the Biffa Group. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.