The obituary notice of David BELL

I am very sorry to hear of David's passing, having last corresponded with him earlier this year briefly when he told me he had cancer. I relocated my family to the E.Midlands for a job at JCB in 2012. Not knowing anyone in the area, I contacted the vicar of the local church in Rocester to ask if he knew of any christians at JCB. He only sent me David's private email address, and a brief correspondence ensued. The first time I met David was when I, as a new business systems developer on staff, received a visit from him at my desk in the big open plan office above the factory floor, where he greeted me with such warmth - not as the General Manager and right hand man to Lord Bamford addressing a lowly minion from a great and pompous height as he might in his position, but warmly and personally as a christian brother, right there in front of my team and team leader. Immediately after, my team leader asked me in hushed tones did I realise who that was, and I casually said that yes I did! Sure I knew his very senior position within the company, which was what my boss was referring to, but what I meant was that yes, I was privileged to personally know David Bell the man, the warm hearted humble servant leader and christian brother... who in the warmth of his greeting to me in that office was just like his Lord and Saviour, who was happy to wash the feet of his own disciples rather than lord it over them. He subsequently invited me to his office on a couple of occasions for a friendly chat. There wasn't much that a lowly employee like me could do then to thank such a great man, so it's a privilege now to offer this tribute to his memory and Christlike character... and I'm sure many others at JCB and those he came into contact with in the professional sphere have had similar experiences of his warmth, kindness, generosity and amazing personality.