John Hindmarch (1941-2009)

JOHN Hindmarch, was principal at chartered accountants Duncan and Toplis from 1966 until his retirement in 2006.

He then formed Grantham Estates to expand his hobby – investing in property.

The son of a motor dealer, he missed the eleven plus exam through scarlet fever and went to the Boys Central School.

The headmaster, told his parents he would be better off near the top at his school than struggling at the King’s so they decided to keep him there.

He said: “It was a very good school. I became captain of football and head boy.

“I’m a great believer in sport. There should make more of it in schools. You don’t realise at the time, but when the ball is at your feet you are learning to take responsibility. It’s a valuable lesson.”

He played cricket for Belton Park, but said he was probably picked because he was the only car owner – a 1936 Morris 8 Tourer.

He left school with a handful of O Levels, and failed his job interview with East Midlands Electricity Board.

He wanted to follow his grandfather into market gardening, but his parents he must train to be an accountant.

In the early days he also worked on his grandmother’s market stall in Nottingham, learning a lot about how trade works.

He became articled to Duncan and Toplis, Grantham, with offices in Barclays Bank Chambers starting on £2.50 a week.

He met and married Janet Caunt, daughter of ironmongers Chandlers half-owner Tom Caunt.

He qualified in 1965 and D&T offered him a senior partnership for £10,000. Amazingly the bank lent it to him. To put that into perspective, a detached house in Grantham would have then cost about £3,000.

John was 26 and already senior partner – effectively the owner – of the practice.

He began his interest in the property market by moving to Castlegate, starting with one property costing £3,000. When he acquired the former Bananas club, it completed the block from the top of East Street to nearly Avenue Road.

He said: “My biggest regret was the standard of building work in the early days. “When with nine others we bought the old Ruston and Hornsby site, we put up some buildings in concrete block and commons.

“I’m horrified at what we did but it’s how things were done then. You only have to look at the atrocious buildings put up on High Street in the sixties.

“Now we always try to do a proper job. I believe in building with brick to the eaves. I believe in the aesthetics of a building.”

He bought properties with what we achieved in the Elmer Street area, the Angel and Royal and Elm House which were in a dreadful state and restored them to their former glory.

On his retirement from Duncan & Toplis and set up Grantham Estates.

He died following a long battle with cancer.

As well as his business interests, Mr Hindmarch was a keen gardener, enjoyed shooting and was a supporter of the local Conservative party.