Wynford Dore

Early life

Wynford Dore was born in Tongwynlais, in the Taff Valley, South Wales. In 1959 his parents moved the family to Coventry in search of work. He gained a scholarship to King Henry VIII School but after obtaining disappointing A Levels he decided not to go to university.

Career

At the age of 18, Dore began working as a computer programmer at Jaguar Cars in Coventry where he stayed for five years.

In 1974 he saw a business opportunity following the introduction of the Fire Precautions Act 1971. In response, he set up his own company Nullifire Ltd, offering fire protection products to public buildings including hotels and guesthouses.

At that time, as asbestos was being phased out, mineral fibre and cement-based products were considered the only option to protect buildings from fire. Dore decided to look for a more aesthetically-pleasing alternative and eventually discovered a methodology for solving the need by using fire-resistant paint technology. He opened centres in Coventry and Paris to further the research and development of this technical breakthrough.

In 1998, Dore sold his business. Soon after this he became aware of pioneering research into how skills are developed in the brain – driven by professors from Harvard Medical School and Sheffield University. He believed that this might give him the opportunity to help his severely dyslexic daughter Susie. She had become increasingly depressed and suicidal and by her early twenties had tried to take her own life three times. Following the sale of Nullfire, Dore was involved with a number of successful companies, including A-Zyme Ltd, Action! Telemarketing Ltd and Calktite Products Ltd, which were all later sold or merged.

The Dore Programme

Another Wikipedia article deals with the Dore Programme itself in greater detail. This article primarily deals with Wynford Dore as the founder. In summary, the Dore Programme was quickly expanded to several other countries. Thousands of people, both adults and children have participated in the programme and many are enthusiastic advocates of it. While some researchers found the programme to be effective, many others said there was no evidence of its efficacy.

The UK division of the Dore Programme went into liquidation in May 2008. On 23 January 2009, Dynevor Ltd acquired the intellectual property rights to the Dore Programme and all of its assets. It continues to offer treatment in many countries.

Dynevor's management included the former Wales and British Lions rugby player Scott Quinnell. He and two of his three daughters had previously completed the programme with success

Arnold Lodge

Dore currently has a number of other business interests. In 1999 he bought Arnold Lodge School in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, with his cousin Gareth Newman, CBE.

Arnold Lodge is a co-educational independent school with 268 pupils, ranging from nursery-aged to GCSE pupils at sixteen. From September 2013, the school will begin teaching A-Levels to Sixth Form students.

Education Development International

Newman, a retired headmaster who was once an advisor on education to the Government, believed that the key to motivating children was allowing them to set their own targets, with their progress being monitored regularly.

Keen for other children to benefit from the same technique, Dore developed online test software that could be rolled out and used at all schools up and down the country.

This product went on to become Education Development International plc, now a highly successful examination board that provides online tests and assessments for schools, vocational entities and professional organisations.

In 2011 it was sold to Pearsons plc, the world’s largest education company.

Brigade Clothing

Dore also is an owner and director of Brigade Clothing, a major supplier of quality school-wear.

Books

Wynford published 'Dyslexia: The Miracle Cure’ in 2006

Personal life

Wynford has four children; Susie, Rosie, Glyn and Gareth. He lives in Warwickshire.