Stephen Boler
Encyclopedia
Stephen Boler was a British
entrepreneur who founded a business dynasty and in later life became a conservationist in South Africa
.
Boler started as a 16 year old trainee at the multinational Unilever
. He made his first fortune in the 1970s, selling cut-price tyre and exhaust systems together with business partner Tom Farmer
, who went on to launch the Kwik-Fit
chain. One of the trainee managers at the time was Brian Lewis, later founder the High Street buy-and-sell business Cash Generator
, who credits Boler with a major impact on his business life.
He went on to found a kitchen and bathrooms business called Limelight, and made £40 million when he sold it. Limelight, now known as HomeForm Group
, includes household names such as Dolphin Showers, Kitchens Direct, Moben Kitchens and Sharps bedrooms.
In 1983 he bought Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire
, handing this over to his son in 1994 when Mark was 22. Stephen had separated from his wife, and his son, whom he sent to the independent school
Millfield
, recalls him as teaching lessons of working hard.
Stephen Boler was the largest shareholder of Manchester City football team
In later life he turned his attention to conservation in South Africa, creating the Tswalu game reserve
in the Kalahari Desert
. He bought dozens of farms covering more than a thousand square kilometres to create the reserve. His will specified that Nicky Oppenheimer
, the South African entrepreneur, should have first refusal on Tswalu, and the Oppenheimer family now owns and operates it.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
entrepreneur who founded a business dynasty and in later life became a conservationist in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Boler started as a 16 year old trainee at the multinational Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
. He made his first fortune in the 1970s, selling cut-price tyre and exhaust systems together with business partner Tom Farmer
Tom Farmer
Sir Thomas "Tom" Farmer, CVO, CBE, KCSG, FRSE, DL is a Scottish entrepreneur.One of seven siblings in a devoutly Catholic family, in 1964 Farmer founded his own tyre retailing business which he sold in 1969 for £450,000. Farmer "retired" to the United States, but became bored and decided to find a...
, who went on to launch the Kwik-Fit
Kwik-Fit
Kwik-Fit is a British car servicing and repair company, specialising in tyres, brakes, exhausts, MOT testing, car servicing, air-conditioning recharge, oil changes and windscreen repair. They are the leading fast-fit supplier of tyres in the UK with over 600 Kwik-Fit centres.-History:Sir Tom Farmer...
chain. One of the trainee managers at the time was Brian Lewis, later founder the High Street buy-and-sell business Cash Generator
Cash Generator
Cash Generator is a UK-based operator of discount retail stores. Headquartered in Bolton, Greater Manchester, the company opened its first Cash Generator store in the centre of Bolton in 1994 and by the beginning of 2011 had expanded to over 130 stores, many of which are operated by franchisees.The...
, who credits Boler with a major impact on his business life.
He went on to found a kitchen and bathrooms business called Limelight, and made £40 million when he sold it. Limelight, now known as HomeForm Group
HomeForm Group
The HomeForm Group is one of the largest retailers of fitted home improvement products in the United Kingdom. Its head office is in Cornbrook, Manchester. HomeForm operate under several brands, Möben Kitchens, Sharps Bedrooms and Dolphin Bathrooms as well as Kitchen Direct...
, includes household names such as Dolphin Showers, Kitchens Direct, Moben Kitchens and Sharps bedrooms.
In 1983 he bought Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, handing this over to his son in 1994 when Mark was 22. Stephen had separated from his wife, and his son, whom he sent to the independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
Millfield
Millfield
Millfield is an independent school in Street in Somerset, in south-west England.The school currently has a roll of 1,260 pupils, of whom 910 are boarders...
, recalls him as teaching lessons of working hard.
Stephen Boler was the largest shareholder of Manchester City football team
Football team
A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
In later life he turned his attention to conservation in South Africa, creating the Tswalu game reserve
Game reserve
A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism or hunting purposes. Many game reserves are located in Africa. Most are open to the public, and tourists commonly take sightseeing safaris or hunt wild game....
in the Kalahari Desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
. He bought dozens of farms covering more than a thousand square kilometres to create the reserve. His will specified that Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicholas "Nicky" F. Oppenheimer is a South African businessman, the chairman of the De Beers diamond mining company and its subsidiary, the Diamond Trading Company. He also has a large financial interest in the diversified mining company Anglo American. In November 2011 the Oppenheimer family sold...
, the South African entrepreneur, should have first refusal on Tswalu, and the Oppenheimer family now owns and operates it.