Personalised Investment Strategies, now with focus on Publishing.
Our Background and Current Focus
Springshaw Developments Ltd is the investment company owned by David and Diana Elder. Originally established in 1986 as an off-the-shelf company purchased by Mark Needham, it was renamed Widget UK Ltd. In the 1980s, Widget’s entire focus was supporting the rapidly expanding customer base for Psion hand-held computers. Both Needham and David Elder had worked for Psion, Needham for one year and Elder for nearly ten years as International Sales Director, during which he also ran Psion’s subsidiaries in Germany and the United States.
In 1996, Elder became Needham’s business partner at Widget. Following a restructure in the early 2000s, Elder acquired the original Widget company and restored its original name, Springshaw Developments Ltd. The company continued to hold shares in the new Widget Group Ltd, where Elder served as Managing Director. Widget thrived as a specialist distributor of consumer electronics, bringing innovative products to the UK and Northern European markets, including brands such as TomTom and Fitbit.
Today, Springshaw Developments Ltd serves as Elder’s vehicle for selected investments, with a particular focus on supporting young entrepreneurs around the world.
Looking to the future, Springshaw Publishing has become a key focus for the company. This division is dedicated to marketing the Science Fiction works of Elder’s father, Michael Elder, an actor and author who wrote fifteen Science Fiction novels in the 1970s, all originally published in hardback.
David Elder
Managing Director
Springshaw Publishing
Michael Elder (1931–2004), the father of David Elder, wrote 27 books during his lifetime, the first of which was published when he was just 17. His work spanned a wide range of subjects, including a history of the RNLI, novels connected to the Scottish drama series Take the High Road, and several titles inspired by his experiences as an actor in post-war Britain.
Springshaw Publishing is focusing on Michael Elder’s Science Fiction titles, a collection of 15 books. The current project involves scanning each original hardback into digital form, which is then typeset for e-book formats. New cover designs are being created by Digital Designer Josephine Miller (www.josephinemiller.art).
E-books will remain the central focus of Springshaw Publishing in the initial phase, but future plans include producing audiobooks for selected titles, as well as printed editions based on the newly digitised content.
Michael Elder's Bio
Michael Elder’s twin careers as actor and writer developed simultaneously. Born 1931 of Scottish parents, his first book, a children’s story called The Affair at Invergarroch, was published in 1951, the same year he left the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). His acting career also began in 1951, initially at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews where he met and later married Scottish actress, Sheila Donald.
He wrote 27 novels and many radio and television scripts, including the long-running Scottish TV series Take the High Road, in which he also played the part of Dr Wallace. Throughout the 1970s he concentrated on his Science Fiction writing, and published a total of 15 Sc-Fi novels, several of which were published in paperback, including translations into German, Italian and Norwegian.
His book For Those in Peril was a tribute to the UK lifeboat service and he served as Editor of the annual RNLI annual magazine. His career also included a spell as Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival in the 1960s.
Michael won the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe First award for his production of Whalers in 1986. Written and performed by himself, it tells the story of his grandfather, a whaling captain based in Dundee, and in particular the support he provided to Roald Amundsen in discovering the North-west Passage during his voyage 1903-1906.
Michael died in 2004. He is survived by Sheila and their two sons, Simon and David – and now 14 grandchildren (at the last count!)
Contact
If you wish to contact us for any enquiries please email us at: info@springshaw.com