David Trenchard

My wife and I purchased Leatherbarrows in 1981 which was then a small business based in Hounslow, the founder and owner Sidney Leatherbarrow had retired. We opened in March 1982 in Bournemouth with contracts from Beales, the local department store and from other companies. In 1988 we purchased Ingrems Removals Limited based in the New Forest and also took over the removals activity of Sketchleys, the Dry Cleaners. This brought branches in Andover and Wareham. We expanded the business and eventually took the decision to close the Hounslow operation for a number of reasons, mainly because the lease on the original, now very unsuitable premises, was to be renewed or terminated. We opened a Self Storage Business at Bournemouth International Airport in 1985 and have subsequently opened Self Storage at our Andover site. In 2011 I decided, after 50 years in the business to go part time and the Board of Leatherbarrows made me chairman and Rob Dance was appointed as Managing Director to run the business. BAR also made me an Honorary Life Member in recognistion of my work for the Association and the Removals Industry.