Clarke & Simpson is an independent firm of chartered surveyors dealing in virtually all aspects of property throughout Suffolk. We opened in Framlingham with the founding partners Christopher Clarke and Michael Simpson in 1990. Since then, the firm has expanded to meet the demands of an increasing client base, with different departments required to suit their needs. Michael retired from the business in 2005.
To maintain our individuality, we have remained as a single office, but multi-disciplined practice, with now more than 30 professional and back-up staff.
1999 was a pivotal year in the firm’s development. Christopher Clarke was appointed as surveyor to the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, a role which encompasses the management of several hundred vicarages and hundreds of acres of glebe land.
A building surveying department was opened in 2002, followed in 2003 with an estate management division. Along with existing practices of commercial property, auctions and lettings, a diverse cross section of rural property services is now complete.
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Christopher Clarke FRICS FAAV
Christopher qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1976 and became a full member of the Association of Agricultural Valuers in 1977. Originally working with the family firm of Spear & Sons based in Wickham Market, he ultimately became Managing Director of Abbotts (East Anglia) Limited in 1986 after that business amalgamated with many other firms. He has always worked primarily with rural property and in the agricultural auctions sector. Christopher commenced practice on his own account in September 1989 and was joined the following July by Michael Simpson. He has been hugely excited by the growth of the firm over the ensuing years but has always held on to offering the personal service which forms the fundamental ethos of the business.
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Hayden Foster MRICS FAAV
Hayden grew up in Badingham, where his family has farmed since 1950. He has always had interest in farming and the countryside, which lead him to his decision to pursue a career as a Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor. Following an undergraduate degree at Writtle College and Post Graduate Study at the Royal Agricultural College, Hayden qualified as a Member of the Rural Division of the RICS in October 1995 having undertaken his Assessment of Professional Competence at Clarke & Simpson. He subsequently qualified in 1996 as a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers and is a former President of the Suffolk Association of Agricultural Valuers. Hayden has been part of Clarke & Simpson since qualification.
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Henry Birch MRICS
Henry originally comes from Shropshire, where his family still farm. He joined Clarke and Simpson in 2003 from Bidwells, where he had worked for over 20 years, much of that time based in Suffolk. During that period he built up a reputation for expertise in Estate Management and brought with him a number of his existing clients. Henry’s work primarily consists of managing rurally based estates in Scotland and Kent, as well as in Suffolk, encompassing a wide range of professional skills. He is Property Consultant to Notcutts, which involves him in their diverse property interests both locally and further afield.
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Stuart Clarke MRICS MNAEA
Stuart is the son of Christopher Clarke and joined the business in 2005. Having gained a degree in Rural Land Management at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Stuart joined a rural practice in Essex which provided grounding in all aspects of property. Having joined Clarke & Simpson’s property team, Stuart went on to become a Chartered Surveyor. He was made Chairman of the Suffolk Branch of the National Association of Estate Agents in 2008 and joined the partnership in September 2008.
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Oliver Holloway MRICS FAAV
Oliver was educated at Woodbridge School before obtaining a BSc (Hons) in Land Management at Reading University. Having joined Clarke & Simpson in 1999, he was then elected a Member of the Rural Division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2001 and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2003. Oliver joined the partnership, along with Stuart in September 2008. Oliver deals with a wide diversity of agricultural matters and specialises in rural valuation, management, farm and land agency. He also jointly heads up the residential lettings department, which has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. Oliver is a member of many agricultural associations and is the training officer of the Suffolk Association of Agricultural Valuers. |
The Staff
We are very fortunate to have over 25 very loyal and competent back-up staff. All our staff congregate for morning meetings, so we are all attuned to current events within the office. We all try to ensure a friendly and personable approach to people, whether face to face or on the telephone.
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