OFFICE-BOY TO MILLIONAIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

OFFICE-BOY TO MILLIONAIRE

WEALTHY LONDON BANKER WHO

WAS ALMOST UNKNOWN. Although immensely rich, Mr. Charles Joseph Sofer-Whitburn, senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Reeves, Whitburn, and Co., bankers, of St. Clement's Lane, E.G., took no part in social affairs, and outside business circles in the city was practically unknown. Yet ho has left estate tho net personalty of which has just been sworn at £1,481,180, and the duties on it will amount to £237,000. There is only one bequest outside the family—£loo to tho Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals.

Mr. Sofer-Whitburn's career is one of the romances of business. Ho began life at 13 as an office-boy, but at the early ago of 23 established, with a fellowemployeo, the firm of Reeves and Whitburn. Although young, the partners were careful, and rash speculation formed no part of their business methods.

Consequently they were able to weather the financial storms which broke when Overend and Gurney and then the City of Glasgow Bank failed.

Mr. Sofer-Whitburn never had a private room. When the business started ho sat in the same oflico with the other clerks, tho only difference being that his desk was curtained off, and he never deviated from that practice His business was his hobby and his recreation. Holidays were rare, and when he did take one ho liked to spend it at his lovely place, Addington Park, in Kent. He bought that estato 24 years ago, but at his death was little better known in the neighbourhood than when he first went there. ' He lived at Addington for a few months every summer, but ho travelled to London every morning. With tho utmost punctuality ho was driven in his motorcar to the station at about, eight o'clock, and every evening at about seven o'clock the car was waiting for him on his return. Great surprise was expressed in the villages at the size of his fortune. He was known to be rich because of his beautiful house and grounds, but ho was little spoken of in tho district. He took no part in local affairs or social life, and had few friends in the neighbourhood. Mr. Sofer-Whitburn was very fond of animals. Many an old friend was pensioned off after his work was done rather than destroyed. He one© picked up a stray dog in the city and took it home to Ennismore Gardens in his motor-car, and then took it to Addington Park. There arc two old mongrel dogs at Addington Park now which he saved from the London streets.

Mr. Sofer-Whitburn was engaged in financial operations in the city almost up to the day of his death.