title: Robert Beecham
text: # Robert Beecham
  
  Robert Simon Beecham (born February 1951) is a British businessman who secured the first Star Wars product license in Europe in 1977. He sold out to Hasbro in 2002 to become a property developer.
  
  ## Early life
  
  Robert Simon Beecham was born in February 1951.
  
  ## Career
  
  Beecham secured the first Star Wars product license in Europe in 1977. He sold out to U.S. toy company Hasbro in 2002 to become a property developer and in that capacity is a director of Latitude Investments Limited and associated companies. He also started a designer toy company known as Dudebox.
  
  ## Personal life
  
  Robert Beecham is married to Claire Beecham. They are trustees of the Claire and Robert Beecham Charitable Trust. The couple live in Primrose Hill, London. In November 2015, Beecham's plan to rebuild his current home and extend it underground with what was described as "London's biggest basement", was subject to criticism by some of his neighbours.
  
  