The former long-term business partner of well-known travel industry colleague Neil Crawford has paid tribute following his death.
Neil, who was 47, died last week.
Simon Taylor, who still runs the agency he set up with Neil near Leeds, posted on his Facebook page to say: “It is with a heavy heart that I’ve been asked by the family of my mate and old business partner, Neil Crawford to inform his wider circle of friends that he took his own life last week.
“Neil was a very good friend and will be dearly missed. The world is now a much sadder place without Neil being here.”
Neil and Simon started their travel careers in telesales for Thomas Cook in Bradford, then moved to Ice Lolly’s call centre, before setting up their own call centre, Holiday Mania, 25 years ago under Freedom Travel Group.
The pair later set up Baildon Travel, in West Yorkshire, and Farsley Travel, in the village of Farsley, near Leeds.
They sold the call centre and Baildon Travel, but Simon still runs Farsley Travel, after buying Neil out a few years ago.
Neil then joined Hays Travel Independence Group as a new business manager in 2019.
He has also worked for Wendy Wu Travel, among other roles, and more recently moved to Seahouses on the Northumberland coast, where he managed some family holiday lets.
Simon told Travel Gossip: “Neil knew so many people in the industry, because of his jobs. It has come as a big shock and he will be missed.”
Neil’s family has asked for people not to post directly on his Facebook page or tag him on posts, while formal processes are still being carried out.
“For anyone wishing to pay their respects, I’ll post details of the funeral arrangements once they have been confirmed,” Simon added.
Main picture, from left: Neil with Farsley Travel colleagues Megan Taylor, Simon, Karen Rawson-Holmes, Alison Disney and Laura Fenn
