Colin Appleyard, who founded what became the UK’s largest Suzuki retailer, has died.

His son Robin, managing director of Colin Appleyard which has dealerships in Keighley, Huddersfield, Shipley and Ashton-Under-Lyne, paid tribute to his father, who had started his career as a motorcycle mechanic for Allan Jefferies in Shipley in 1951.

Having worked his way up to the role of sales director, at the age of 34 Colin Appleyard decided to open his own dealership in Keighley in 1970. Retailing Suzuki and Honda motorcycles, nine years later he became Suzuki Cars first retailer in the UK.

"Despite failing health he remained active in the business until his last few weeks," Robin Appleyard told the Telegraph & Argus local newspaper.

"On his final trip abroad to the Suzuki conference and awards dinner in Amsterdam last December, he was delighted to be given a standing ovation when he stepped up to receive – for the sixth time – the Dealer of the Year title plus a special award to mark the company's 35 years as a Suzuki dealer and reaching sales of 30,000 new cars."

Colin Appleyard was awarded an MBE in the 2013 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his lifelong service to motorcycle racing. 

> The funeral will take place at 2pm, Thursday at St Peter’s Church, Moorhead Lane, Shipley, BD18 4JN and afterwards at The Bankfield Hotel, Bingley.