Campbell Bridges was credited with discovering the rare stone Tsavorite A leading Scottish gemstone expert has been killed in Kenya by a gang armed with clubs, spears, bows and arrows. Campbell Bridges, 71, was attacked by 20 men in the grounds of his 600-acre property near the southern town of Voi. He fought off the mob with his son Bruce and four Kenyan staff but died of his injuries on arrival at hospital. Police are investigating the attack which is reportedly connected to a three-year dispute over access and control of Mr Bridges' gemstone mines. Police said he was driving his pick-up truck in the grounds of his home within a national park when he was ambushed by about 20 men brandishing crude home-made weapons. Witnesses said his injuries were caused by stab wounds from a knife. No-one else was injured in the attack on Tuesday. Mr Bridges' body has since been flown to the capital Nairobi. He would stand up to anyone. He would have gone in with his fists flying if someone attacked him
The Rev John Ellison
Victim's friend
Murdered gems expert's son speaks A close friend, the Rev John Ellison, 72, from Alton, Hampshire, told the BBC Scotland news website that the internationally-renowned gemmologist would have put up a strong fight. "He was very fit, strong and confrontational but a lovely man nevertheless," he said. "He would stand up to anyone. He would have gone in with his fists flying if someone attacked him." He added that his "wonderful" friend had "a quick fuse if anyone was dishonest". Mr Bridges was brought up in Scotland but had lived in the African country most of his life. He is credited with discovering the green Tsavorite gem, a rare stone unique to the region, and also worked as a special consultant to the New York jewellers, Tiffany and Co. Mr Ellison revealed that Mr Bridges had previously been threatened as he owned mining rights and therefore knew where the deposits were. "He was very well known in Africa and the gemstone industry, which gave him a lifetime achievement award," he said. "He had a fund of stories and I was privileged to have been the first person outside his family to know of his discovery in 1971. This is terrible news." A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of Campbell Bridges on 11 August following injuries sustained in an attack near Voi in Kenya. "British consular officials are liaising with the local authorities who have confirmed that an investigation is under way." Mr Bridges leaves a wife, Judy, and two grown-up children, Laura and Bruce.
Bookmark with: Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version
The Tsavorite Gem which Bridges discovered

A mob of 20 men have killed a leading British gemologist in the town of Voi in Kenya. Campbell Bridges who was born in Scotland was killed at his 600-acre property located within a national park. The attack is reported to be linked to a 3 year dispute over control of the gemstone mines owned by Mr. Bridges. 

Police reported that Bridges was driving his pick-up around his land when he was ambushed by 20 men wielding homemade clubs and spears as well as bows and arrows. Bridges fought off the mob with the help of his son and four Kenyan staff. He was transported to hospital but later died. No one else was seriously injured in the attack. 

Bruce Bridges, Campbell’s son spoke to reporters about his ordeal. He spoke of how he fled to the capital Nairobi with his father’s body. “As we drove towards our mining camp we found huge thorn trees blocking the road. Eight men with machetes, spears, clubs, knives, bows and arrows appeared, shouting, ‘We’re going to kill you all!’ Then more people came down the mountain like ants — 20 or 30 of them” he said. 

Campbell was renowned in the gemstone business. He worked as a special consultant for jewelers Tiffany & Co. He is also credited with the discovery of tsavorite and also involved in the discovery of tanzanite.