Hilary Devey

Devey was born Hilary Lorraine Brewster on 10 March 1957, in Bolton, Lancashire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/13/hilary-devey-obituary|title=Hilary Devey obituary|date=13 June 2022|website=the Guardian}} As a seven-year-old child, she witnessed the results of the bankruptcy of her father, who had owned a central heating company, when bailiffs removed furniture and household goods from the family home. Her father then earned a living managing pubs and hotels. She left school at the age of sixteen, and served for a short while in the Women's Royal Air Force, in air traffic control and the supply accounts department; she was stationed at RAF Brize Norton. Devey later moved to London.{{cite book|year=2012|author=Hilary Devey|isbn=978-0-230-76593-1|title=Bold As Brass: My Story|publisher=Macmillan}}Radio Times, 30 July–5 August 2011

Devey made her fortune launching Pall-Ex, a palletised freight network. Launched in 1996, Pall-Ex was the third palletised goods distribution network to be launched in the UK. It was based on the well-established hub-and-spoke express parcels distribution model: this form of pallet network was pioneered by Palletline in 1992.

Pall-Ex handles around 8,000 palletised consignments through its Leicestershire hub each day and has over 90 network members. In 2021 it had a turnover of £92.1 million, compared with £76.6 million in 2020. In 2021 gross profits were £10.9 million.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03155761/filing-history|title=PALL-EX (U.K.) LIMITED – Filing history: see "Full accounts made up to 31 July 2021" |website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}}

Devey featured in several television programmes, including The Secret Millionaire in 2008, in which she donated more than £70,000 to the Back Door Music Project and the Syke Community Centre in Rochdale.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dragons-den-star-hilary-devey-24206898|title=Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey dies at 65|first1=Lucy|last1=Needham|first2=Benjamin|last2=Blosse|date=12 June 2022|website=Manchester Evening News}} In March 2010, she was the presenter of The Business Inspector for Channel 5, a four-part documentary series which saw her use her business acumen and expertise to help transform struggling small businesses into successful profitable companies.{{Cite web|url=http://hilarydevey.com/media-profile/tv-shows/|title=TV Shows}}

In February 2011, Devey joined the panel of the BBC Two programme Dragons' Den following the departure of James Caan. Devey later announced that she would be leaving the series in June 2012, as she had signed an exclusive two-year agreement with Channel 4.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/8304550/Hilary-Devey-replaces-James-Caan-on-Dragons-Den.html|title=Hilary Devey replaces James Caan on Dragon's Den|last=Hurley|first=James|date=31 July 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}

In September 2012, Devey presented her final programme for BBC Two, a mini-series called Hilary Devey's Women at the Top, a joint Open University and BBC Two production.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mnwcb|title="Hilary Devey's Women at the Top" at bbc.co.uk|work=BBC|access-date=4 October 2014}}

In April 2013, after moving to Channel 4, Devey began hosting a new series, The Intern, a business documentary in which Devey gave three young interns a week's trial in the job of their dreams. The first three episodes were aired in the Thursday 9 pm time slot, but the final three episodes were broadcast on Wednesday nights at the later time of 11 pm, due to a significant drop in ratings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/tv-ratings-intern-channel-4|title=The Intern doesn't do the job for Channel 4 | TV ratings | The Guardian|website=amp.theguardian.com|date=12 April 2013 }}

On 3 April 2014, Devey announced that she would host a new Channel 4 programme, which began filming in June 2014. The show, named Running the Shop, began airing on Channel 4 on 9 June 2015.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/HilaryDevey/statuses/451791352960143360|title=Hilary Devey CBE on Twitter: "Incredibly excited about my new TV series. Start filming in June."|access-date=4 October 2014}}

On 18 June 2015, Devey made her debut as a guest panellist on the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women, and became an occasional panellist on 4 September that year. However, she departed the show on 9 November.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hilary-devey-dies-dead-dragons-den_uk_62a5f05de4b0c77098a1b990|title=Dragons' Den Entrepreneur Hilary Devey Dies, Aged 65|last=Percival|first=Ash|date=12 June 2022|website=HuffPost UK|accessdate=12 June 2022}}

Devey was awarded the Vitalise Woman of the Year Award in 2008,{{cite web|title=Secret Millionaire Hilary Devey wins the prestigious Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year award 2008|url=http://www.ukpreneur.co.uk/1419/secret-millionaire-hilary-devey-wins-the-prestigious-vitalise-businesswoman-of-the-year-award-2008/|publisher=Ukpreneur|access-date=26 January 2011}} and an Honorary Doctorate of Law by the University of Leicester in 2010 for her services to industry.{{cite web|title=Honorary degrees, July 2010: no.1 Hilary Devey|url=http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2010-archive/july-2010/our-2010-honorands-no.1-hilary-devey/ | publisher=University of Leicester |access-date=26 January 2011}} Other UK domestic awards have included the Sir Robert Lawrence Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in 2009 and the Personality of the Year in the International Freight Weekly Awards for 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.commercialmotor.com/news/queen-s-birthday-honour-for-hilary-devey|title=Queen's birthday honour for Hilary Devey|date=17 June 2013|accessdate=11 June 2022}}

In July 2012, Devey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the University of Bolton, for services to business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/9815767|title=Dragon' Hilary honoured at hometown university|website=The Bolton News|date=13 July 2012|accessdate=11 June 2022}}

Devey was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), in the 2013 Birthday Honours, for services to the transport industry and charity.{{London Gazette|issue=60534|supp=y|page=7|date=15 June 2013}}{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22904807 | work=BBC News | title=Birthday Honours: Adele joins Blackadder stars on list | date=14 June 2013}}

On 16 April 2014, Devey was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Wolverhampton.{{cite web|last=University of Wolverhampton |title=Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration |url=https://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=36707 |publisher=University of Wolverhampton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415074641/https://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=36707 |archive-date=15 April 2014 }}

Devey was an ambassador of the British Citizen Awards, a ceremony held bi-annually to reward everyday individuals and their contribution to society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishcitizenawards.co.uk/about-2/endorsements/|title=Endorsements}}

Devey previously lived near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, but then relocated to Boylestone in Derbyshire. She also had a house in London and villas in Morocco, Spain, and Boca Raton, Florida, and for a time, owned a mansion in the state, which she sold in 2014 for £5.42 million.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/internationalproperty/10742371/Dragons-Den-Hilary-Deveys-Florida-mansion-for-sale.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404064052/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/internationalproperty/10742371/Dragons-Den-Hilary-Deveys-Florida-mansion-for-sale.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 April 2014 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Ed | last=Cumming | title=Dragon's Den: Hilary Devey's Florida mansion for sale | date=3 April 2014}} She was married and divorced three times.{{cite web|title=Hilary Devey on Radio 4 Desert Island Discs|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/1b83e928#b01nk24l|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 November 2012}} She also had a son named Mevlit, who she said in 2013 had successfully overcome drug addiction.{{cite news|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2013040211866/hilary-devey-dragons-den-interview/|title='Dragons' Den' star Hilary Devey on business success and personal regrets|publisher=Hello!|date=2 April 2013|accessdate=12 June 2022}}

Devey was a Bolton Wanderers supporter{{cite web|url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/9701034.Whites_fans_are_feeling_pressure/?|title=Whites fans are feeling pressure "Whites fans are feeling pressure" at theboltonnews.co.uk|work=The Bolton News|date=11 May 2012 |access-date=4 October 2014}} and a fan of rock band Status Quo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/status-quo-legend-rick-parfitts-9514745|title=Rocker Rick Parfitt's wife cared for him until the day he died|first=Ashleigh|last=Rainbird|date=26 December 2016|website=Daily Record}}

On 28 October 2012, whilst on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Devey shared a story about her mother's discovery, years into her relationship with Devey's father, that he already had a wife and four children. Devey also discovered that her ex-partner was also already married with five children.

Devey campaigned for various charities, including Carers Trust, of which she became vice-president in 2012. She donated to charity one penny for each pallet distributed by the Pall-Ex network through her 'Penny a Pallet' scheme.{{cite news|last=Moya|first=Elena|title=Can Hilary Devey drive a truck? The Pall-Ex founder can certainly drive a freight revolution|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/oct/22/hilary-devey-pall-ex-interview?INTCMP=SRCH/|access-date=26 January 2011|newspaper=The Guardian (UK)|location=London|date=22 October 2010}} She also supported the Stroke Association, for which she became a patron in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hilarydevey.com/charities-the-stroke-association/|title=Stroke Association, Hilary Devey|accessdate=12 June 2022}}

On 11 June 2022, Devey died at her holiday home in Marrakesh, Morocco, following a long illness, aged 65.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/06/13/hilary-devey-award-winning-haulage-entrepreneur-became-star/|title=Hilary Devey, award winning haulage entrepreneur who became a star of Dragon's Den – obituary|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 June 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/12/former-dragons-den-star-hilary-devey-dies-aged-65|title=Former Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey dies aged 65|date=12 June 2022|website=the Guardian}}{{cite web |title='Truly one of a kind': Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden pay tribute to former Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey after her death aged 65 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/former-dragons-den-star-hilary-devey-dies-aged-65-12632566 |website=Sky News |access-date=12 June 2022}} Tributes were paid by her former Dragons' Den co-stars Theo Paphitis, who said Devey "left [them] with some fantastic memories, may she rest in peace"; Duncan Bannatyne, who tweeted he was sad to hear of her passing, noting that Devey had died "too young"; and Deborah Meaden, who described her as "unique in every way", adding that she "brought grit and warmth with her into the den."{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-61777466|title=Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey dies aged 65|website=BBC News|date=12 June 2022|access-date=12 June 2022}}

;Television

;Guest appearances

• Room 101 (2012){{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cmrwh|title=BBC One – Room 101 – Extra Storage, Series 1, Episode 5|website=BBC}}
• The Million Pound Drop (2013){{cite web|url=http://www.carers.org/news/hilary-devey-wins-big-carers-trust-million-pound-drop|title=Hilary Devey wins big for Carers Trust on Million Pound Drop|access-date=4 October 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/10563650.Hilary_Devey_and_Greg_James_win___25_000_on_TV_show/?ref=rss|title=Hilary Devey and Greg James win £25,000 on TV show|work=The Bolton News|date=22 July 2013 |access-date=4 October 2014}}
• Fifteen to One (20 June 2014){{cite web|url=http://digiguide.tv/programme-details/Channel+4/20+June+2014/19:00/Celebrity+Fifteen+to+One/Game+Show/|title=Celebrity Fifteen to One|access-date=4 October 2014}}
• Through the Keyhole (4 October 2014){{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/through_the_keyhole/episodes/2/6/|title=Through The Keyhole Series 2, Episode 6|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}
• Safeword (3 September 2015){{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/safeword/episodes/1/7/|title=Safeword Series 1, Episode 7|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}

• Bold as Brass: My Story (2012), London, Macmillan, {{ISBN|978-0-230-76593-1}}{{cite web|url=http://www.panmacmillan.com/book/hilarydevey/boldasbrass|title='Bold as Brass: My Story' at panmacmillan.com|access-date=4 October 2014}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.hilarydevey.com/ Official website]
• {{Twitter|HilaryDevey}}
• [https://www.pallex.co.uk/ Pall-Ex official website]
• {{IMDb name|3315761}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devey, Hilary}}

Category:1957 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:20th-century English businesswomen

Category:20th-century English businesspeople

Category:21st-century English businesswomen

Category:21st-century English businesspeople

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:English philanthropists

Category:Television personalities from Lancashire

Category:People associated with the University of Leicester

Category:People from Bolton

Category:Women's Royal Air Force airwomen

Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:Military personnel from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton

Category:Dragons' Den