National estate agency chain Winkworth has announced “with great sadness” that one of its founding figures has died.

Lawrence Alkin, who in 1981 helped found the current form of the company including creating the framework and documentation for Winkworth Franchising Ltd, passed away on Wednesday.

Although Winkworth dates back to 1835, it didn’t begin expanding until Simon Agace bought the business in 1972 (off Countrywide) when it had just three offices, deciding to embrance franchising after a trip to the US with Alkin, one of the first in the UK to do so.

Winkworth has issued a statement this morning saying “the board extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Lawrence’s family and would like to take this opportunity to express its thanks for his significant contribution to the company during the many years of his involvement”.

Alkin, who subsequently left the estate agency to pursue a highly successful career in other sectors including founding leisure club Holmes Place. But he returned to Winkworth in 2009 to bolster its senior line-up when it was floated, becoming and remaining a non-executive director until his death. He also owned 3% of the company’s shares.

Friends for 50 years

Simon Agace (pictured, left), whose son Dominic now runs the business, says he and Alkin had been friends and business partners for half a century, adding that: “Originally as a property investor, Lawrence was a major client of mine.

“His legal mind, as a founder of Colombotti Alkin & Partners in the 1970s, proved invaluable in assisting me to create our unique franchise concept for Winkworth.

“He and I spent time travelling in the USA, in Phoenix Arizona and on the West Coast, where we both gained considerable knowledge of American business methods, which proved very useful when I was developing our UK franchise system.

“Lawrence had a huge impact on Winkworth and he has passed this legacy on to the Company’s current CEO, Dominic Agace, and the management team, who have greatly benefitted from his professionalism and extensive knowledge. We will all miss his wise counsel and considerable experience.”

Alkin was a very private man despite his public profile and there are no pictures of him available, and he appears not to have taken part in any interviews in recent years.