Nigel Broackes
Encyclopedia
Sir Nigel Broakes was the founder of Trafalgar House
, one of the United Kingdom
's largest contracting businesses.
and educated at Brambletye School in Sussex
and Stowe School
, Broakes initially joined Stewart & Hughman, a firm of Lloyds underwriters on leaving school. He then did national service
and was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps
in 1953.
After completing his national service and with the support of Eastern International, a small finance house, he started buying up bomb sites in London
. Eastern International became Trafalgar House
and Broackes took a 21% stake in the business when it was first listed on the London Stock Exchange
in 1963. In 1964 the Company took a 49% stake in Bridge Walker, a construction company owned by Victor Matthews
. After that Broackes and Matthews worked together to build Trafalgar House into one of the United Kingdom
's largest contracting businesses. Broackes resigned in 1992 following heavy losses associated with a diversification into offshore
activities.
In 1979 Broackes became Chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation
, a post he resigned from in 1984. He was knight
ed for his role at that organisation in 1984.
He died in 1999 in Chelsea
.
Trafalgar House (company)
Trafalgar House Public Limited Company was a British conglomerate with interests in property investment, property development, engineering, construction, shipping, hotels, energy and publishing...
, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest contracting businesses.
Career
Born in WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
and educated at Brambletye School in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
, Broakes initially joined Stewart & Hughman, a firm of Lloyds underwriters on leaving school. He then did national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
and was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
in 1953.
After completing his national service and with the support of Eastern International, a small finance house, he started buying up bomb sites in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Eastern International became Trafalgar House
Trafalgar House (company)
Trafalgar House Public Limited Company was a British conglomerate with interests in property investment, property development, engineering, construction, shipping, hotels, energy and publishing...
and Broackes took a 21% stake in the business when it was first listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 1963. In 1964 the Company took a 49% stake in Bridge Walker, a construction company owned by Victor Matthews
Victor Matthews, Baron Matthews
Victor Collin Matthews, Baron Matthews of Southgate was Group Managing Director of Trafalgar House, one of the United Kingdom's largest contracting businesses as well as the proprietor of the Daily Express.-Career:...
. After that Broackes and Matthews worked together to build Trafalgar House into one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest contracting businesses. Broackes resigned in 1992 following heavy losses associated with a diversification into offshore
Offshore investment
Offshore investment is the keeping of money in a jurisdiction other than one's country of residence. Offshore jurisdictions are a commonly accepted solution to reducing tax burdens levied in most countries to both large and small scale investors alike...
activities.
In 1979 Broackes became Chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation
London Docklands Development Corporation
The London Docklands Development Corporation was a quango agency set up by the UK Government in 1981 to regenerate the depressed Docklands area of east London. During its eighteen-year existence it was responsible for regenerating an area of in the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and...
, a post he resigned from in 1984. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed for his role at that organisation in 1984.
He died in 1999 in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
.