Liquidators seek to unravel oak builder’s demise

Wisbech-based Bespoke Oak Supplies had recently completed a large £2m oak frame leisure complex, opened by boxing champion Joe Calzaghe in February.

But just a few months later the company went into liquidation. Patricia Marsh, of liquidator Marsh Hammon and Partners, confirmed that the company’s statement of affairs showed a shortfall of £1.6m, with the company’s main investor Robin Syrett owed £1m.

She also said HM Revenue & Customs was owed £350,000, while MKM Building Supplies and Jewson, both of King’s Lynn, were owed £27,700 and £32,000 respectively.

She said many of the creditors were contractors. “Our investigations are at an early stage,” Ms Marsh told TTJ. “It’s too soon to say why the company failed. It was a small company and had one large contract.

“This company would have been three years old so would have been in the danger zone [as a recent start-up]. To start a business in 2010 would have been difficult.”

A story in the Cambridgeshire Times quoted a written testimony to creditors by Bespoke Oak Supplies director Paul Woods, who painted a picture of poor financial management at the company and suggested the firm was overstretched.

Company records show managing director David Worrell resigned from the company less than two weeks after the grand opening of the company’s biggest contract – the £2m oak leisure centre at Tydd St Giles Golf & Country Club.

Ms Marsh asked that any company with a claim against Bespoke Oak Supplies or with information about it should contact her on 020 7220 7892.