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Len Smith's is Central Twickenham's oldest established family business, founded in 1927. The son of an outfitter, Len started the business in a small shop at 18, Church Street, Twickenham (shown below) selling men and boys' clothing, sportswear and scout and guide uniforms.  Three years later, in 1930, he married and was joined in the business by his wife, Caroline, who took charge of a department supplying girls' and ladies' wear. Shortly afterwards, the opening of Thames Valley Grammar School in Twickenham led to the company being invited to become the school outfitter. This was the start of the company's involvement in the provision of school uniforms. Thames Valley Grammar was quickly followed by other schools and to meet the demand, the firm acquired new premises at 21, Heath Road, Twickenham. The original premises at 18 Church Street was retained up until 1940 and continued to trade in boys' and men's wear. In 1953, in order to cope with the demands of the flourishing business the company moved again to larger premises at 29 and 45, Heath Road. However with further growth even these premises were not large enough and in 1961 a new store with double the floor capacity was acquired at 40 Heath Road (see below).  This move coincided with the appointment of Len's son, Len Smith Jnr, as Managing Director of the firm. After his formal education locally, and at Dauntseys School in Wiltshire, Len Junior took a three year full time course at Bradford University where he was awarded a degree in textiles and became an Associate of the Textile Institute in 1959. From 1961, Mr Len Smith Jnr continued to develop the business and in 1984 the store premises at 40 Heath Road were further extended by the acquisition of the leases of the two adjacent shops (36 and 38 Heath Road) as shown below:  After several years trading at 36 - 40 Heath Road, the opportunity arose in 1993 for the business to move to its existing premises at 1 - 15, Heath Road, it's fifth move in 60 years but all within Twickenham. Our current premises:  Having begun the business in 1927, Len Smith Senior retained an active role up until his death in 1981. His wife, Caroline Smith, showed the same commitment to the company and continued to work at the store up until her death in 1998 at the age of 92. In September 2002, nearly 75 years after the formation of the company and some 50 years after his father joined the business, Chris Smith, grandson of the founder, joined to take charge of the day to day running of the business as Managing Director leaving his father, Len, with more time to concentrate on contact with schools and the design of uniforms. In 2008 it was decided that the best way to take the company forward was by merger with another major supplier in the school uniforms industry. It was in June 2008 therefore that the company was acquired by D W Stevensons Ltd of St Albans, a highly successful business with the facilities to take Len Smith's forward in the competitive arena of school uniform provision. As a result Len Smith finally retired from company at the age of 74 to spend more time with his family and in particular his much loved grand children. Meanwhile, under the new management of David Stevenson, his son, Mark and other members of the family the company is still a family run concern with traditional values of personal service. The core business of school uniforms, sportswear and sports equipment will continue with a strong emphasis on value for money, style and health and fitness for all. Delivering these traditional values in a modern age will encompass the use of latest technologies, emerging services and manufacturing techniques - maintaining the Company’s position as one of the Country’s leading specialists in school uniform and sportswear.
D W Stevenson Limited Registered Office - 131-135 Victoria Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3XS Directors: D W Stevenson (Chairman), M W Stevenson (Managing), C M Stevenson (Secretary) |
