Robert Dorrien-Smith

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Robert Dorrien-Smith
Born
Robert Arthur Smith-Dorrien-Smith

1951
Alma materEton College
Occupation(s)Businessman, politician
Spouses
  • Lady Emma Windsor Clive (divorced)
  • Lucy Morgan Smith
Children5
Parents

Robert Arthur Smith-Dorrien-Smith (born 1951) is a British businessman and politician. He is also the current leaseholder of Tresco, an island of the Isles of Scilly.[1][2][3]

Biography[edit]

Robert Dorrien-Smith was born in 1951 to Thomas Mervyn Smith-Dorrien-Smith and Princess Tamara Imeretinsky.[2] He was raised at Tresco Abbey. At aged 8, he attended Sunningdale School, a prep school in Berkshire.[1] He attended an agricultural college[2] before later being educated at Eton. After the death of his father Thomas Dorrien-Smith in 1973, Robert Dorrien-Smith inherited the lease to Tresco at the age of 22.[1] Up until 2004, Dorrien-Smith and his wife Lucy had made numerous improvements to Tresco, such as the construction of a new terminal building at Tresco Heliport, as well as many additions to the Tresco Abbey Gardens including a new entrance building, a shell-decorated gazebo[2] and 2 sculptures by David Wynne.[4] He also acquired a hotel on the neighbouring island of Bryher, then the second Tresco Estate owned hotel on the Islands,[2] in 1999.[5] He introduced the concept of timeshares to Tresco in 1978.[4]

Dorrien-Smith was one of the backers of a new helicopter service to the islands and the new Penzance Heliport.[6] He is friends with King Charles III, who, through the Duchy of Cornwall, was the landlord and ultimate owner of Tresco, and often visits the Islands.[1][3] Dorrien-Smith has been a councillor, representing the ward of Tresco, for the Council of the Isles of Scilly from 1976 to 1979 and since 2002.[7]

Dorrien-Smith's first marriage was to Lady Emma Windsor Clive; together they had 3 children. His second marriage was to Lucy Morgan Smith, and they had 2 children.[4]

Electoral record[edit]

2009 Council of the Isles of Scilly elections[edit]

Tresco (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Robert A. Dorrien Smith uncontested
Independent Michael A. Nelhams uncontested

2013 Council of the Isles of Scilly elections[edit]

Tresco (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Robert A. Dorrien Smith Unopposed
Independent Michael A. Nelhams Unopposed

2017 Council of the Isles of Scilly elections[edit]

Tresco
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Robert A Dorrien Smith Unopposed

2021 Council of the Isles of Scilly elections[edit]

Tresco
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
no description Robert Dorrien-Smith Unopposed

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "At home: Robert Dorrien-Smith". Financial Times. 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bowley, R. L. (2004). The Fortunate Islands (9th ed.). St Mary's, Isles of Scilly: Bowley Publications. pp. 110–111. ISBN 0-900184-40-X.
  3. ^ a b Church, Edward (2022-03-04). "Prince Charles has a tropical paradise island near Cornwall". CornwallLive. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  4. ^ a b c Barber, Richard (2002). Tresco Times: The Last Piece Of England (1st ed.). Halsgrove. pp. 110–111. ISBN 1-84114-163-1.
  5. ^ "Hell Bay Hotel Acquired". The Tresco Times. Vol. 3.1. 1999. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Robert Dorrien-Smith: 'Community support astounding'". This is Scilly News. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  7. ^ "Councillors and Committees | Council of the ISLES OF SCILLY". committees.scilly.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-01.