Dave P. Tyndall, Jr.

Dave P. Tyndall Jr., (March 3, 1917 - June 30, 2006), whose full name was David Patrick Tyndall, Jr., was a leading Irish businessman in the 20th century, who started out in a family business with his eponymous father and eldest brother William, and played an important role in helping modernize the wholesale and retail grocery trade, consolidate it, and enable the family grocery shop owner adapt to the advent of supermarkets. He also played a key role at the head of several business organisations, was a world traveller and amateur pilot, who also featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man ever to fly a helicopter solo.

Family background

He was a son of Sarah (née Gaynor) and David P. Tyndall (Sr.). He married Molly (née Kettle) in September 1949, and they had four children: Mona, Mary, Pauline and Vivian.

Career in Business

He was known for his keen sense of opportunity and strategic vision, and his success at mergers and acquisitions earned him the nickname "Take-over Tyndall" in Irish business circles. Known as a caring employer, he absorbed many of the employees of wholesalers who closed down (Hugh, Moore & Alexander, Shirley Spence & Belford, McMaster, Hodgson, R. Jones & Co.), and introduced a bonus incentive scheme, and a scheme of non-contributory pensions for all employees. He lay behind the first initiative of an Irish wholesale group to establish a bonded warehouse to expand their wine & spirits business.

After his father's retirement, and in close collaboration with his older brother William, he expanded the Tyndall interests to include retail stores, through joint ventures for self-service stores across Ireland. Their reputation for honesty and loyal relationships with banks and insurance companies guaranteed them support in times of need, such as when damages were incurred due to floods or fire, etc. They successfully resisted a 25% takeover bid by Irish businessman Tony O'Reilly in 1971. Eventually they sold AWL to Joshua Watson Ltd., and Dave joined its board. It was later taken over by Irish Distillers, who were later taken over in 1988 by Pernod-Ricard.

The Tyndall brothers continued to maintain their other interests, William retired in 1980 and Dave retired in 1984, after fifty-one years in the grocery business.

Dave's aviation interests included an active involvement (President) with the Leinster Aero Club, currently based in TREVET (EITT), near Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. The Leinster Aero Club was founded in 1956 and originally based at Weston Aerodrome. In 1964, the club re-located to Dublin Airport, where it existed until relocating back to Weston in 2004. In 2006, the club moved to Trevet Airfield, a newly licensed field near Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. There are over 50 members in the club ranging from SPLs, PPLs, CPLs, ATPLs and Instructors. The club has a proud history of success stories - several members have gone on to become professional pilots with various airlines around the world.

Companies founded, with his father and brother

• Doherty, Tyndall & Co. Ltd.
• D. Tyndall & Sons, Ltd.(Director & Secretary)
• Farm Sales, Ltd. (Director)
• Creamery Packers, Ltd. (Member)
• Efficient Distribution, Ltd. (Golden Goose Stores)(President)
• SPAR Ireland Ltd. (Director)
• Cameron Markets, Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director)
• Park Markets, Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director)
• Greenhills Produce, Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director)
• Phoenix Markets, Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director)

Mergers & Acquisitions

• National Packers, Ltd.
• Sugar Distributors, Ltd. (Director)
• Brightside Engineering, Ltd. (Director)
• Amalgamated Wholesalers, Ltd. (AWL) (Chairman & Managing Director)
• McArdle & Lalor, Ltd.
• Moore Investments Ltd. (Director)
• Carton Bros. Co.
• Lee & Co.
• MNC (Merchants National Coop)
• MUM Cash & Carry
• MACE franchise stores
• Gilmores
• Brooks Watson Group, Ltd. (Director)
• B.W.G. Foods Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director)
• B.W.G. Trading (Chairman)

Business Associations co-founded

• RG Data - Retail Grocery, Dairy and Allied Trades
• Irish Association of Distributive Trades (I.A.D.T.)(Member)
• Wholesale Grocers Association of Ireland (President)
• Irish Grocers Benevolent Association/Fund (President)

Aviation Interests & Positions

• Leinster Aero Club Ltd., President
• Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Treasurer
• Irish Aviation Council Ltd., Treasurer

Other interests & positions held

• St. Joseph's Hospital, Vice-Chairman
• Legion of Mary, President of a Praesidium
• St. Gabriel's Parish Committee, Chairman
• Swords Family Care Ltd., Chairman
• National College of Industrial Relations, Committee Member
• Thorndale Lawn Tennis Club, Committee Member

Biographical references

• Flying high...at 83 - David is World's Oldest Copter Pilot, article by Martina Devlin, Irish Independent, Dublin, 22 July 2000.
• Flying in the face of convention, article on David Tyndall by Olive Keogh, published in Irish Times, Dublin, 20 April 2002.

External links

• Guinness Book of Records Guinness World Records
• RG Data [1]
• SPAR Ireland [2]

Background references

• Tyndall manuscript genealogies: see MS. vols. F.3.23, F.3.27, F.4.18 in Trinity College Library, Dublin
• The Book of Dignities, by Joseph Haydn, 3rd edition, W.H. Allen & Co., London, 1894.
• Fairbairn's Book of Crests of Families of Great Britain and Ireland, by James Fairbairn, (2 Vols.)T.C. & E.C. Jack, London, 1905.
• Prerogative Wills of Ireland (1536–1810) - Index, by Sir Arthur Vicars, Dublin, 1897.
• A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, London, 1838.
• A Guide to Irish Country Houses, by Mark Bence-Jones, Constable & Co.Ltd., London, 1988. (pages 19 and 41).
• Dublin Almanacks, 1830, 1840, 1860.

Persondata
Name	Tyndall Jr., Dave P.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 3, 1917
Place of birth
Date of death	June 30, 2006
Place of death