Cecil DuckworthCBE (1937 – 15 November 2020) was the founder of Worcester Bosch and executive chairman of Rugby Union team Worcester Warriors. He also founded the Worcestershire Duckworth Trust, a Worcestershire charity that helps to relieve poverty and promote environmental conservation.
. . . Cecil Duckworth . . .
Cecil Duckworth was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire in 1937. He died on 15 November 2020.[1] He moved to Worcester in 1958 having secured a five-year apprenticeship with Redman Engineering.[2][3][4][5] He qualified as a mechanical engineer in 1961.[5]
Duckworth started Worcester Engineering Co Ltd in 1962.[6][7] The company grew slowly at first until Duckworth introduced the first combination boilers in 1970. The popularity of his new type of heating system saw his business expand rapidly.[1][5] He sold the company to the Bosch Group in 1992, personally earning around £30 million, though he remained with the company.[6][7] After a year as president of the Bosch Heating Division Duckworth retired in 1996.[7] He is recognised as being the first non-German to head an operation within the Bosch Group.[4][7]
Throughout his career Duckworth has assisted education and health establishments in Worcester. He was a governor at Worcester Sixth Form College and served as the chairman of the South Worcestershire Community Healthcare NHS Trust.[5]
Duckworth owned the property group CD Developments and in 2009 was estimated to be worth around £40 million.[6] He has been referred to in the Malvern Gazette as Worcester’s “most successful businessman of the last 50 years”.[4] He published the autobiography Worcester Warrior in 2012.[4]
In 2013 Duckworth was appointed a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his charity contributions to the Worcestershire community.[2][5] This followed the OBE he received in 2004 for services to the community and to rugby.[2][3] He was awarded the status of honorary freeman of Worcester in 2008.[8]
. . . Cecil Duckworth . . .