Harvey Mansfield – 1932 – 2015

Tyres & Accessories recently learnt of the passing of Harvey Mansfield after four years of illness and many years in the tyre industry. Rising from a Belfast tyre warehouse to Avon Tyres Ltd’s boardroom during his long career, he was widely known and well-liked.

Former Avon executive and NTDA chairman, Donald Gibson offered this tribute: “Harvey Mansfield was a determined and ambitious man – but always kind and thoughtful. His rise to become sales director of Avon Tyres in 1981 was a story of single-mindedness, determination and triumph against the odds. Harvey left school at 14, got a job in the warehouse at Dunlop in Belfast”.

Mansfield went on to take night school classes and become sales manager for the North of Ireland before eventually becoming national sales manager and then sales director for Avon Tyres. As Don Gibson explained, during his time in Ireland: “Harvey Guided Avon through ‘the troubles’”.

But perhaps his greatest achievement was his personality: “I never met anyone who didn’t like and trust Harvey – he was popular and respected everywhere. He was a devoted family man and very proud of his two sons – Peter and Stephen”, Don Gibson explained.

Harvey Mansfield is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Sybil, sons Peter and Stephen and four grandchildren. His funeral will be held at 13:45 on Tuesday 14 April 2015 at Bath Haycombe Crematorium.