David John Ernle Longridge Esq (b.1939)

David Longridge was born on 15 June 1939 in Aldershot, England. His mother, Joan Longridge née Whyte, was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but brought up in Bedford, England. His father, Col. Theodore Longridge, was a career officer in the British Army, having fought in both world wars. Born only a few months before the second world war broke out, he spent the war period with his mother and sister in Cheltenham. David attended Downside, the Bendictine boarding school. He switched to become a chartered accountant, and took articles with a London based firm of chartered accountants.

Qualifying in due course as ACA, David went straight to Paris to join the American firm of CPAs, Arthur Young & Co for whom he undertook client work for clients in Algeria and Morocco. In 1965, he moved back to London to work for Avis Rent A Car. He married Anna Watkinson on 12 September 1970. David also has a love of cars. He bought a 1964 Superfast 500 Ferrari from a princess in Italy, driving it all the way home across Europe.

They eventually moved into a converted farm property in the country called Fosse Farm, and traded their house in Chelsea for a flat in Roland Gardens, South Kensington. Both Charles and Edward were educated at Eaton House in Belgravia, London followed by Moor Park, a boarding school in Shropshire. Charles later attended Downside while Edward attended Eton College. 

While working for Avis, David was in overall charge of Avis International. At the time, Avis was the second-largest car rental company globally. He would often fly the Concorde to New York for business. After 16 years with the company, he approached Margaret Thatcher with a view to becoming an MP in the Conservative Party. Taking Thatcher’s advice, David did not pursue that idea, but has been an active supporter of the Conservative Party, becoming Chairman and later President, of the North Wiltshire and South Cotswold Conservative Associations. He has met several prime ministers or political figures, including David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher, Theresea May, having also been inside No. 10 Downing Street. After working at Avis, David later worked in investment banking, where he worked for Jacob Rothschild for a number of years.