SLX Group announces the loss of Adrian Patterson

30/06/26

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Adrian Patterson, director and co-owner of SLX Group Ltd.

Adrian passed away at the age of 57, leaving behind his beloved wife Kathryn, their three lovely children, Bethany, Josh and Ellie, son-in-law Tom, together with his parents, siblings and their families.

There are few words that can truly express the sense of loss we all feel.

Adrian joined SLX Group in 2013 and, through his leadership, technical expertise and commitment to the business, became a director in 2017. A qualified engineer with an exceptional understanding of complex engineering systems, he combined technical knowledge with commercial insight in a way that earned the trust and respect of colleagues, customers and partners alike.

Over more than a decade with SLX Group, Adrian helped shape the direction of our business, building lasting relationships across the industry and mentoring countless colleagues along the way. He was instrumental in the successful management buyout of 2022, helping secure the future of the company he cared so deeply about. His calm judgement, pragmatic approach, optimism and enthusiasm were constants throughout every challenge we faced, and his influence will continue to be felt for many years to come.

His professional achievements only tell one part of Adrian’s story, as we mourn the loss of a lovely colleague who meant so much to so many people.

He was our Adrian.

He was our colleague who enriched our lives in ways that reached far beyond the normal course of business. He was our friend, our mentor, our mentee, our guide, our wise counsellor, and our trusted confidant. He had an extraordinary ability to bring people together, to listen before speaking, to offer advice without judgement, and to empower people, cherishing their growth.

Above everything else, Adrian’s greatest pride was his family. Married to Kathryn for nearly 40 years, they met at university and built a wonderful life together. He was a proud and loving father to his children.

We often affectionately referred to them as ‘the Waltons’, after the much-loved television family, because the love, laughter and closeness they shared reminded us so much of Adrian’s own family. Adrian really was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a man whose kindness and quiet strength were evident to everyone who knew him.

Our hearts go out to Kathryn, Bethany, Josh, Ellie, Tom and their family and friends. We cannot begin to express how deeply sorry we are for their loss.

“I trusted Adrian implicitly and liked him immensely. I feel so privileged to have been his colleague, his fellow director and owner. My relationship with Adrian was very precious and it is not often one has the luck and privilege to find and work with people like him. I wrote him a letter a few weeks back, a sentence read ‘…you have made me a better businessman, a better person and certainly a better father…’. This is Adrian to me.”

Justin Brooking, CEO

Adrian's legacy is not only the business he helped shape, but the lives he touched through his friendship, wisdom, generosity and unwavering belief in the people around him.

Knowing Adrian, he would not have wanted us to stand still for long. He believed in looking forward with optimism, supporting one another and facing every challenge together.

We will grieve, we will remember, and then we will crack on – for Adrian, for Kathryn and their family, for each other, honouring the example he set every single day.

He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.