Mr Ridgeon joined the family business Cyril Ridgeon and Son Ltd, training in the yard, working as a sales representative and travelling to Sweden and Finland for hands-on timber training. In 1958 he was given the challenge of managing the newly acquired Saffron Walden Building Material Supply Company.
When his father died in 1973, David Ridgeon took over the leadership of Ridgeons, putting strong emphasis on staff quality and customer service and the character of the company today stems from him. He had a one-to-one leadership style, investing in the development of employees. He was president of Ridgeons’ 25 Club for full and part-time employees with over 25 years of service. He was also a trustee of the Chaplaincy to People at Work.
Under his leadership the company grew from a £6m turnover business with 330 employees to a £115m turnover company with 913 employees in 2004.
Mr Ridgeon chaired the Builders Merchants Federation’s education and training committee and served as president in 1989. In 2000 he was Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants.
After completing 50 years with the Ridgeon Group, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Builders’ Merchants Awards for Excellence in 2003. His proudest moment was receiving his MBE from Prince Charles for services to the builders merchant industry and to the community of Cambridgeshire.
Mr Ridgeon served as a deacon, church secretary, trustee and chairman of the fabric committee (maintaining the church buildings) at St Andrew’s Street Baptist Church in Cambridge. A member of Rotary since 1965, he joined the Saffron Walden Club and then transferred to Cambridge in 1974. He was club secretary for both areas and president of Cambridge Rotary in 1986.
He was married to Jill for 53 years and was a proud father to Rachel and Anne, and grandfather to his four grandchildren.
