Ben Smith Retires from Bridge Greenhouses
In 1966 Ben Smith graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and went to work for a boiler manufacturer Burgess & Co. It was here he met Peter Bridge, who would become an important friend in years to follow. Ben left Burgess and Co in 1970 to become a Specialist Adviser in engineering for Protected Cropping with ADAS. It was with ADAS, 39 years ago that Ben started accumulating his engineering knowledge within the horticultural industry.
In 1987 Ben joined the glasshouse company Wilco as technical director, then Bridge Greenhouses in 1991, a company his old friend Peter Bridge started in 1980. Ben set up and ran the Southern division of Bridge Greenhouses, and later entered into his current role as managing director of the company.
Through these years in horticulture Ben has become one of the industries leading experts in heating and engineering, contributing to countless project, research papers and articles.
Ben retired from Bridge Greenhouses on 3rd April 2009, and will be leaving some very big boots to fill! He will be missed my many, but will no doubt be popping up from time to time in the years to come.....
Mark Chivers has been a director at Bridge for the last 2 years, and has now taken the reins from Ben as Managing Director. Mark has been working in the Horticultural industry for many years with Van Vliet and Hoogendoorn UK, so is already some way towards filling those rather large boots!
Ben, we wish you all the best in your retirement, and above all enjoy it - you have deserved it!
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