7:34 am, September 26, 2013
TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known car dealer who collapsed and died while playing football.
Stuart Bourner, 45, who had been in the motor trade for more than 25 years, died after paramedics failed to resuscitate him during a football match at the Neil Centre, Carlisle.
Bourner worked at Benfield Motor Group, where he was named best salesman in 2004 after selling 300 cars in one just one year.
He had been in the dealer industry for more than 25 years, working for Mason’s Garage at Rosehill in Carlisle and Midas Vehicle Management near Houghton. Bourner eventually opened his own dealership, Stuart Bourner Cars.
In his spare time he was a keen amateur footballer who played for teams across north Cumbria.
Andrew Harper, a sales executive at Benfield Nissan, told the News and Star: ‘Stuart was one in a million who could never be replaced.
‘Stuart was greatly admired by everyone who was lucky enough to know him – he had a major presence in the franchise and was the top salesman in the whole group year-on-year.
‘He will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues past and present who are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of this tragic news.
‘Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.’
