Tributes paid to leading property figure and former BABC chair
Malcolm Gloster, a well-known figure in the regional property industry, has passed away aged 74, from advanced prostate cancer.
Malcolm (pictured) was also a former chair of the British American Business Council (BABC) Midlands Chapter, now the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce.
He joined Grimley and Son (later GVA Grimley, GVA, and after a time as part of the Bilfinger group, acquired by Avison Young at the end of 2018) in 1966, the week England won the World Cup, as a graduate trainee straight from Wrekin College.
He became the firm 's youngest partner at 28 years old, specialising in the office sector in the Midlands.
In the mid-70s, he opened GVA 's third office abroad in Miami, returning to the Midlands a few years later to specialise in development consultancy and public sector work.
In the 1990s, Malcolm was seconded into the Department of Environment team assessing Urban Development Grant applications and spent a second year as Chair of the National Assessment Panel.
He was appointed regional managing partner of the GVA Grimley Midlands office in the late 90s, where he was best known among the Birmingham business community, particularly as a chair of lobbying group Birmingham City 2000 (later Birmingham Forward).
Illustrating the esteem in which Malcolm was held in the industry, he was awarded Insider 's West Midlands Property Personality of the Year.
Malcolm retired as a partner in 2008. He continued part-time in the capacity as a consultant for another 10 years, mainly acting as Property Adviser to the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham.
He finally retired in 2018 after 52 years loyal service to the same company.
As a keen sportsman and rugby player in his younger days Malcolm continued to cycle, ski and play golf and tennis throughout his life, and in recent years spent much time in Devon with his wife and partner of 22 years, Annie.
Carl Potter, managing director Birmingham, Avison Young, said: “In a long and successful career, Malcolm became established as a leading professional in the field of urban development and regeneration.
“He was a man who lived life to the fullest, highly committed and respected as a chartered surveyor and much loved for his positivity and compassion by colleagues and friends alike.
“He took an active interest in the careers of young surveyors and had a wealth of experience which he always offered freely. Malcolm will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. ”
Malcolm is survived by his wife Annie, three children Mike, Louise and Tim, and seven grandchildren.