30.11.2017
David Jacobi 1960-2017
We have received the sad news that David Jacobi, manager special projects Heavy Cranes division at Ainscough Crane Hire has passed away peacefully at home after a very short illness. He leaves his wife and two grown up children.
Jacobi has spent his working life in the crane business, joining Ainscough in 2000 having worked as a divisional director for Baldwins Industrial Services from 1990 and as a contracts manager for Grayston White & Sparrow from 1982. He began his crane career straight out of School, joining British Crane Hire Corporation in 1978 - which had been created following the merger of Richards & Wallington Crane Hire with Mobile Lifting Services - He never looked back and took to lift planning like a duck to water.
At Ainscough he was promoted to lead the company's special projects team working on some of the most complex and challenging projects in the heavy crane sector.
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David Jacobi
A statement from Ainscough said: “Those of you who knew and worked with David will have known a man with exceptional knowledge and experience of working in the lifting industry. He was cranes through and through and possessed a rare blend of technical knowhow with a commercially astute outlook.”
“With a dry sense of humour and infectious passion for the job, David took great pride in each and every project he delivered. He would share his knowledge freely with peers and youngsters embarking on their careers alike communicating with both warmth and the gravitas derived from his years of experience.”
“Outside of work David was most comfortable on two wheels indulging his passion for motorbikes. He was a regular at track day meetings and had ridden for many years with a local club of which he was a senior member. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Vertikal Comment
This is sad and surprising news, while he was not in the best of health he was a speaker at Crane Safety 2017 in late September where he made a very passionate presentation on crane safety and lift planning, he also hosted one of the round table discussion groups. He was every bit as passionate and enthusiastic as a new entrant and it is hard to imagine therefore that barely eight weeks later he is gone. And while still relatively young.
The industry has lost one of its best
sean sitch
David always managed to set me some interesting challenges regarding lift planning and Liebherr's product data. He always remained extremely professional throughout despite being under pressure himself to gain the information in a timely manner.
It is very sad news indeed that he has passed away as he had also become a friend outside of work where we both enjoyed the life of motorcycling.
My condolences go out to his family and his work colleagues.
Miss you David.
Sean Sitch
SAD NEWS
I was so sorry to hear the sad news. I brought David into the Crane Rental Industry with British Crane Hire Corporation when he was 18 years of age. That was in 1978 at Wood Street Walthamstow. David started on the Hire Desk but with an A level in Technical Drawing and a keen interest in the engineering side, it was no surprise when David, over the following years, became a very successful heavy lift engineer and contracts manager.I worked with David with several other crane companies over the years. He was a really nice man who was liked and respected by all who knew him. My condolences to Karen and family.
Colin Wood
MRI Man
MRI London would like to send our deepest condolenses to Davids family. He became such a good friend through our interest and work in cranes. The knowledge he had in the crane industry outshone all the other companies and his drawings were second to none. An extremely helpful man who quite often would work at home just to help us achieve a deadline. I know that we will miss him dearly and he can never be replaced.
Rest in Peace David
Mark Collier M.D.
Ray Stidwell
Echoing everything that's already been said, I too shed tears on hearing this very sad news; heartfelt condolences to Karen & all the family. Thoroughly professional, David was one of the most refreshing people I have ever met & worked with, straightforward, honest, considerate & always a pleasure. David, tragically you've been dealt a short innings, but one that you've undoubtedly used well and impressively, always being a credit to mankind & earning deserved respect from those lucky enough to know you. RIP Great Man.
The dunc
I was very saddened to here the news I new david for about 17 years from when I started in Baldwin?s through to ainscough his knowledge in the crane industry was phenomenal and his attention to detail was outstanding ? saying that he was a great family man and he was very quiet and quite shy .
I was only a ballast driver and got to now him very well over the years . He is a great loss to the crane industry and his family and friends. Rest in pease mr Jacobi and give them hell up there . THE DUNC
SPUD
Shed a Tear last night when I heard the news, knew Dave at Grayston White and Baldwin's massive help to me in my early career, used to sample a Burger from many a Site Burger van that is probably why I am nearly as big as he was just wish I had a heart as big as His, my thoughts are with his Family.
RIP OB Wan God Bless
Ed Hudson
This is very sad news. David was a passionate professional, a big personality and a lovely bloke and his family, friends and the crane industry will all hurt from his passing. My thoughts and condolences are with his family.
John
I worked with David at Baldwins for many years sad loss to so many people who knew the man a very experienced person in all matters and especially heavy lifting. Did a fair few projects with him , of course it was always my turn to get lunch A big lad with a big heart
Thoughts are with your family and friends
RIP OB one
John Spillings
I had the great pleasure of getting to know David from 2007 when my previous company merged with ACH, his expertise and technical knowledge of cranes/lifting was one of the best in our industry, his attention to detail was in my opinion awesome and I was lucky to have him as a friend and work colleague, my sincere thoughts are with his family, RIP OB1 x
Jessie
This is very sad news for me as a friend and the industry as a whole. We worked together and became very good friends and my son and his daughter Francesca were born at the same time. He was a big lad with a very big heart and and it is a privilege to have known him. My heart goes out to his famil.
Steven Elliott
I have never made any comments on Vertikal before but felt compelled to register and do so on hearing this very sad news. I have known David for many years and had the pleasure of many discussions with him. His talk at the crane safety meeting earlier this year was exceptional and presented with great enthusiasm and humour. A real loss to the industry. I only spoke with him two weeks ago, as always he was very excited about the arrival of a new crane and had many questions. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Rest in peace David you will be greatly missed.
HolyGrale
I'm saddened to hear of David's passing. He was as mentioned above, the most focused and knowledgeable heavy crane specialist I have had the pleasure to know.
He answered so many questions for me in my early crane days.
Rest in peace.