Sir Geoffrey Newman Bt

Dartmouth Connections - Sir Geoffrey Newman Bt

How long has the Newman family been associated with Dartmouth?

Newmans have been in Dartmouth since the 1400’s. Through sole trading and joint ventures they developed businesses, and began owning property in the town. Indeed they built up a fleet of square-rigged sailing ships that traded very successfully across the Atlantic in the 18th and 19th centuries.  

How long have you lived here?

My early years were spent in London but the family always holidayed at Blackpool and due to my father’s very poor health we moved here permanently when I was 12.  I adored the holidays when I would spend most of my time on the beach, swimming and boating – it was the start of my great love of the sea and our magnificent coastline.

What did you do after leaving education?

I joined the Grenadier Guards & undertook public duties in London and a short spell in Cyprus with the UN.  I extended my commission to work as an Outward Bound Instructor in the Infantry Junior Leaders Regiment.  During this time I developed my love of scuba diving and spent my leave time working for research projects on Green Sea Turtles taking me to Costa Rica and Bermuda.  

On leaving the Army I joined a financial printing company in London but I soon realised that City life was not for me. I was recruited by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as a member of his   preparatory expeditions, which finally resulted in his very successful 1988 Transglobe Expedition. 

We simulated the Antarctic by travelling over northern Greenland and the Arctic, experiencing temperatures of -40˚ it was certainly a trial by cold!  It was there that I met my wife Mary who had also been recruited to assist Ran’s wife Ginny.  At the same time I was serving as an officer in 21SAS (The Artists Rifles) TA.  

My expeditionary specialisation was recording the expedition events on film and I subsequently applied these skills as an Assistant Director to a wildlife film company in America and then on returning to England I continued in the film business working for a London based international film and video production company with filming assignments world wide. Mary and I decided to return to Devon to bring up our growing family in Stoke Fleming and manage the family property.

What does your job of managing the family property involve?

First I must say that many of the Dartmouth merchant trading families bought land overlooking Start Bay, so that they could get away from Dartmouth but be reasonably close to their businesses and the   Newmans bought land at Blackpool.  The fact that these families bought those properties has meant that this coastline has remained fantastically unspoilt, & its amazing wildlife has been preserved. I don’t have much to do with the farmland because it is managed by local families who know how to work this land.  

The cottages on the estate obviously have to be looked after, but it is important that the estate stands on its own feet and for the owner to grasp opportunities that enable the estate to do that as well as provide enjoyment and employment for others. 

It was my mother who started the business at Blackpool Sands after the last war and I have built on her beginnings.  The family connection pays dividends here because we can concentrate on providing a fantastic family day out without spoiling the very thing that people come to see.  

How did the garden develop?

In 1896, during his holidays at Blackpool, my grandfather began creating a wonderful sub tropical garden and obtaining many rare plants from the big gardens in Cornwall.  My father enlarged this garden and added to the rare and exotic plants. In 2000, with EU funding, I was able to restore their garden and open it to the public. 

Mary and I are also responsible for organising the guided tours and managing the working lighthouse at Start Point for Trinity House.  For the last 14 years I have worked as a guide in Britain and N. Spain for a walking tour company and I currently guide visitors off the cruise ships to Dartmouth.

You are also very involved with other organisations, charities and campaigns…

My love of the sea and the need to preserve its marine habitats and wildlife brought me to the Marine Conservation Society & I have chaired this fantastic environmental charity since 2002.  I also Chair the committee for our existing open air swimming pool, which is now coming to the end of its life which is why I also Chair the Trust to provide a new indoor pool for Dartmouth. 

I also sit on the Board of the Britannia Museum at the Naval College and help them with their amazing collection of College memorabilia.  I am also President of the Dartmouth branch of the St Georges Society and President of Dartmouth and Kingswear Society.  I enjoy giving talks to local groups both about the restoration of Blackpool Gardens and tales of smuggling!  There’s never a dull moment!

First published February 2009 By the Dart

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