History

Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants has a history stretching back almost 90 years. Our founder, Frank Bishop, was a second generation Italian immigrant. He took the somewhat unusual step of running away from home, and from his father’s grocery importing business, to join a firm of accountants in 1910.

After impressing as an office manager and accountant for the best part of a decade, he agreed to go into business with a Mr Fleming. Fleming backed out of the partnership before the business was even launched, but as stationery had already been printed, the name stuck! The firm’s office in Torquay opened in 1919. We retain an office in the town to this day.

The post war period proved a good starting ground for an accountancy firm. Many businesses had become profitable during the war, and now the Inland Revenue had the staff and capacity to start asking for records! Many businesses therefore found themselves in dire need of accounts. This provided a good foundation for Bishop Fleming, which was immediately profitable.

The firm admitted its first additional partner in 1922, and has merged with many firms over the years, absorbing both smaller local accountancy practices and offices of larger firms such as Grant Thornton.

Frank Bishop retired at 74 in 1951, and died shortly after. He was a Fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants, and like many of his peers was accepted purely on the basis of his experience. He was well respected for his common sense in business, his probity, and his friendliness.

The firm has continued to grow and stands today with 18 partners and over 200 staff. We remain strongly rooted in the South West of England, with offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro and Torquay.