Stocktaking pioneer David Venner dies
By Ewan Turney
09/01/2009 11:40

David Venner, one of the early pioneers of computerised stocktaking within the company that still bears his name, has passed away aged 76.


David joined Venners after completing his National Service in the RAF and was promoted to the board of directors in 1955.

In 1961, along with his brother Michael, he assumed a joint managing directors position, which he held until his early retirement from the business in 1985.

David helped to create modern stocktaking methods and was amongst the first to spot that stocktaking was a trade that lent itself to modern computerisation.

He also played an active role in negotiations when the business was sold to Christie + Co in 1984.

In recent years ill health had forced David to move closer to his family in Devon where he succumbed to Motor Neuron Disease on 6 January.

Trevor Heyburn, Venners current managing director, said: “All of us at Venners are deeply saddened by David’s death, although he had not been actively involved for many years we still felt his overriding presence and still, to this day, try to do things in a way of which he would have approved.”