19.08.2024

Lee Sadler 1962 – 2024

We have received the sad news that Lee Sadler, general manager of UK based Sparrow Crane Hire has died.

He passed away peacefully at the Dorothy House hospice in Winsley, Wiltshire, surrounded by his family, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 62. 

Lee left home in 1977, at the age of 16, to join the Army and, following his initial training, was posted to the Marchwood military port in Southampton. Over the next few years, he worked on port operations and received training on operating both mobile and ship cranes.

In 1982, he saw service in the Falklands and, towards the end of his time in the Army, he was posted to Norway. After seven years of serving his country, he left the Army and returned to civilian life, taking on various driving jobs until he spotted an advert looking for crane operators at Gordon Sparrow Crane Hire. 

Speaking just a couple of weeks ago, he recalled: “I rang the number and who should answer the phone but Gordon Sparrow himself. Gordon arranged an interview with Barry Mildren and Geoff Hillier at a pub in nearby Hanham. This was the start of my career in the crane hire industry.”

Lee remained in the crane industry for the rest of his life, moving to Capital Crane Hire and then Hewden Stuart, where he was soon promoted to depot manager. 

Speaking of his next move, having decided to leave Hewden, he said: “I contacted Tim Sparrow to ask if there were any vacancies, and joined the business in August 1998, starting out by going to look at jobs then go back to the yard get a crane and go do the jobs. The business grew at a steady pace with larger cranes added to the fleet. We also introduced pedestrian operated tower cranes, spider cranes and mini crawlers and developed the training department and installation services. During that time, I worked my way up to become general manager.”

During his second spell working for the Sparrow crane business he met and married Gordon Sparrows daughter Emma. The couple settled down in Keynsham, not far from the Sparrow crane hire yard and they had a son together - Jack.

Lee Sadler leaves behind his wife Emma, children Jack and Lauren, as well as step daughter Chloe, along with both his parents, a brother and a sister.

Unassuming, but quietly competent, Lee Sadler was incredibly well liked within the UK crane rental industry. He was always ready to crack on with the job, without making a fuss. He loved his motorbikes, family life and his work. He insisted on going into the office and working normally every day even when it became a physical struggle for him. He only stopped when it became impossible to work over the past month or so.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 on Tuesday September 3rd at St John’s church Keynsham, BS31 2BL.
Donations to Dorothy House Hospice www.dorothyhouse.org.uk