Matthew Newbury

Matthew Newbury

Newbury outside one of his building sites
Born (1981-05-22) 22 May 1981
Norwich, England
Occupation Property developer, investor, theatre producer
Net worth £9 million[1]

Matthew Newbury (born 22 May 1981) is a London-based property developer who, in 2011, was the first person in Britain to be fitted with a bionic leg.[2] Newbury's business interests include theatre production.[3]

Early life

At a young age Newbury was working as a volunteer at the Norwich Playhouse, as well as spending the weekends travelling back and forth to London.[4] He wanted to work in technical theatre, specifically in the West End.[5]

In 1997, whilst travelling back from London he was involved in a serious road traffic accident in which he lost his left leg above the knee.[6] He spent 18 months in various hospitals recovering.[7] He moved to London in 2001 to work in professional theatre in the West End.[4]

In 2003, Newbury received £2.1m as compensation for his injuries, plus a further award to provide for his accommodation needs.[8]

Business interests

Newbury set up a home building company, Newbury Developments and one of its projects was the construction of housing in Newbury's home town of Norwich.[9] Newbury's other businesses include a theatre production company.

He is featured in the Sunday Times Rich List 2012 (60 Richest Young People) with a net worth of £9 million.[10]

Bionic leg

In 2011, Newbury was the first person in the UK to be fitted with a groundbreaking new bionic prosthetic leg, Genium.[11][12][13] It is claimed the leg cost him around £50,000.[14] The leg allowed Newbury to ride a bicycle, ski and climb the stairs normally.[15] The leg's technology led to Newbury being labelled the UK's first bionic man.[16]

The Secret Millionaire

In 2012 Newbury took part in a Channel 4 documentary programme, The Secret Millionaire. He focused mainly upon charities working with individuals with disabilities.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Norfolk-born property developer’s dramatic career change". Eastern Daily Press. 14 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Amputee is first Brit to be fitted with new bionic leg". The Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Career Change: Financial Planner and a Millionaire Property Developer". Career Change Journal. 15 September 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Technician awarded £2.1m to compensate for lost leg". The Stage News. 10 February 2004.
  5. ↑ "Revolutionary new bionic leg for amputee Matthew". The Press and Journal. 10 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "The bionic leg that gave my life a lift: Amputee fitted with limb that lets him cycle, walk backwards and even go skiing". The Daily Mail. 10 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Bionic leg for road crash amputee". The Press Association. 9 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Guardian". 9 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "A new build". Small Business. 26 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Sunday Times Rich List 2012". The Sunday Times. 29 April 2012. (#29 of 60)
  11. ↑ "Matthew Newbury First UK Patient with Latest Bionic Leg Prosthetic System". Top News, New Zealand. 10 November 2011.
  12. ↑ "Amputee becomes first person to be fitted with bionic leg". The Metro. 9 November 2011.
  13. ↑ "One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for the Future of Prosthetics". iStock Analyst. 9 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bionic leg for road crash amputee". MSN News. 9 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "First UK clinic to fit the new Genium Knee". Proactive Prosthetics. 9 November 2011.
  16. ↑ "Londoner becomes UK’s first real ‘bionic man’". London24. 10 November 2011.
  17. ↑ http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-secret-millionaire/video/series-15/episode-1/matthew-newbury
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