The True Founder of Bridging Passes Away

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Many claim to have pioneered the development of bridging finance but Royston Smith is without doubt one of the true founders.  Roy passed away on 13 December 2013, at the age of 82.

Roy was involved in financial services as far back as 1962 with Smith Martyn & Co and established a bank in the mid 1970’s then Bristol and West Investments plc in 1982, which was better known in it’s latter years by its’ trading name bridgingloans.com.

This was the first bridging company to be floated on AIM in 2000 and was subsequently sold in 2005 a week after the death of his dear wife Maureen.  Roy also set up a second mortgage lender and various other finance companies in his time and through his commitment to providing a quality service brigingloans.com achieved the industry’s accolade of being Bridging Lender of the Year in 2008 and was widely recognised by many as the market leader and cutting edge in this market place.

He was a very active sportsman and had a great passion for horse racing, owning twelve race horses.   He had many success’s in the financial world and even staying active and with a sharp business mind until his last days. Roy was always modest with his achievements and few will know of his substantial support to the Princes Trust and various charities including financing a hospital wing. Roy had even rekindled his love for finance and was one of the backers, with his son Martyn Smith, establishing Bath and West Finance in the bridging market.

 

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