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REN Spring 09 1/4/09 10:50 am Page 1 Retired Employees’ News Produced on behalf of the John Laing Charitable Trust Spring 2009

Among the articles in this issue... COMPANY NEWS BOWLS CLUB BIRTHDAY A new road for India How the members of and first images of Rowley Lane Bowls Club Croydon’s regeneration are still going strong REN Spring 09 1/4/09 10:50 am Page 2

DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: APRIL 30 2009

CONTENTS Main news 3 Top story from the John Laing group The truth about London Bridge 4 Opeations director Richard Groome puts right the myths Please address news stories/queries to: General News 5 Pensioner Publishing Laing people still playing bowls at Rowley Lane 60 years on 5 Harpenden Close Bedford Rebuilding Croydon 6-7 Beds, The first images of John Laing’s amibitious plans MK41 9RG General news 8 Tel: 01234 313055 A new road in India among other items Mob: 07774 259542 www.retirementmedia.com Team Spirit Past 9-11 Email: Snippets of news from 50, 25 and 10 years ago [email protected] True TV talent of retirees 12-13 An original TV Topper and Generation Game man Please address other correspondence to: John Laing Welfare Dept Club News 14 33 Bunns Lane All the activities and events happening near you London NW7 2DX Christmas luncheon write-ups 15-19 Tel: 020 8959 9013 Memories of characters plus Christmas luncheon details Printed by TJ Offset, Hertford Your anniversaries 20-21 Golden and Diamond Weddings 90th and 95th Birthdays COVER PHOTO: A graphic of how Croydon’s new council Welfare News 22 offices will look. See pages 6 Find out about the Message in a Bottle scheme and 7 for an overview of the new Croydon In memoriam 23 We’re spoiled for correspondence I KNOW Christmas is meant to be for see on page 8 we are extending the chance of an extra blanket?” The youngsters, but I am always grateful period of the competition and judging wish is granted . When they meet the that my own festive period stretches over the summer, so you still have next year the novice says that every- into the New Year with three Laing time to send entries in. thing is OK spiritually, but his por- retiree clubs having their gatherings As regards the ‘new joke’ for ridge is a bit cold in the mornings, is in January. spring, I know for a fact that there there any chance it might be served This year it was particularly gratify- are very few truly original jokes and a bit warmer. Again this is granted. ing to meet a number of new mem- that this one does not even come After three years when he is asked if bers. close to qualifying, however I tend to everything is OK the young man Many of the people I met had fond live by the maxim that the old ones says: “Actually, I do not believe the memories of the M1 and celebra- are the best ones. order is for me and I wish to leave.” tions scheduled for this year. We The story involves a young novice After he has gone Father Abbott have been inundated with people who decides to join a silent order of turns to his assistant and says: wishing to share their memories and monks. At his interview he is told “Thank goodness for that. He’s done experiences on that amazing con- that he will only be allowed to speak nothing but moan since he arrived.” tract. We will be putting a special once a year when he meets Father I am indebted to Tony Edwardes feature in the summer issue of the Abbott and his assistant to check who told me of a Bhuddist monk magazine. that everything is OK. After one year who refused an anaesthetic when he In fact, we have been spoiled for cor- he goes to the meeting and, when had root canal work carried out on respondence in the past few months asked if everything is OK, he says: his teeth. Apparently he wanted to with many of you sending in entries “There is just one small thing, I am a transcend-dental-medication. for the photo competition. As you will bit cold at nights, is there any Alex Finkenrath

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NEWS

Back to school with a Snap to it with classy £1.1bn project photos JOHN Laing is part of the joint venture THANKS for all your named as preferred bidder for a £1.1bil- entries so far. lion education project in Barnsley. Just a reminder that It is the largest single investment ever it is not too late to in Barnsley education. The council enter. The pictures announced Barnsley Partnership for will be judged before Learning (BP4L) – a joint venture the summer issue between John Laing and Laing O’Rourke Everyone who makes – as preferred bidder for its £1.1 billion it onto the judges’ Building Schools for the Future pro- shortlist will see gramme. EARLY YEARS: The first school project their picture in print The announcement is a major step undertaken by the Company nearly ten and the winner will towards the launch of a new partnership years ago, Highlands in Enfield be printed on a full between the council, BP4L and page. Partnerships for Schools (PfS) to deliver ty that the council is fully committed to There is no limit on the council’s flagship educational trans- and I am looking forward to the superb the subject matter, formation programme. benefits that this programme will bring as long as it is taste- Working together, BP4L and Barnsley for pupils for years to come, as well as ful and it does not council will replace all 13 secondary their teachers, school staff, parents and have to be a recent schools with nine completely new build local communities, and as a result, picture. Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs), with Barnsley as a whole.” To enter send your the remainder being brought up to The Barnsley BSF programme is picture to us, by post modern standards. designed to ensure a step change in or by email. Details Stephen Beechey, speaking on behalf provision in Barnsley that will include are below and good of BP4L, said: "This education transfor- state of the art physical and virtual facil- luck to you all. mation programme is at the heart of ities for Barnsley’s secondary and spe- I By post: regenerating Barnsley's communities cial pupils, adult learners, teachers, Send your picture to: and we are extremely excited to be a support staff and others that will facili- REN Photo partner in delivering this life-changing tate leading edge teaching/learning. It Competition, 5 commitment. BPfL is dedicated to build- will also create flexible learning spaces Harpenden Close, ing long term strategic partnerships and along with greatly enhanced ICT provi- Bedford, Beds, MK41 has enjoyed building a strong working sion including better access to data and 9RG relationship with Barnsley Metropolitan resources and a wider spread of Please enclose the Borough Council throughout the bid portable devices. name and details process." Tim Byles, Chief Executive of about the subject of The programme will deliver cutting Partnerships for Schools – the govern- the picture and edge design and ICT solutions in three ment agency responsible for the BSF ensure it is carefully phases with all of the ALCs planned to programme said: “We congratulate packaged with card be built and open by 2011/12. Barnsley on reaching this important to prevent the pic- Cllr Linda Burgess, Cabinet milestone in their BSF project. It is good ture being folded. Do Spokesperson for Children, Young news for the progress of the BSF pro- not attach clips or People and Families said “I am delighted gramme nationally and even better write on the back of to see this very important milestone tak- news for the learners and communities it. ing place as we move towards providing in the borough. The investment in new I Email pictures to: not only all our secondary and special and improved buildings, facilities and info@retirement- school youngsters but also the commu- technology will have an enormous media.com Make nity with exciting, innovative and inspir- impact on the education and life sure it is (at least ing learning centres and resources. chances of every young person in the 1mb) in size. “This is a once in a lifetime opportuni- local area.”

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GENERAL FEATURE Richard puts right the London Bridge myths While other teenagers had more traditional hobbies, Richard Groome was helping his dad dismantle London Bridge to send over to its new American own- ers. He put right a few of the urban myths about the bridge when he joined North West retirees at their Christmas luncheon.

IT’S no wonder John Laing Operations Director Richard Groome ended up working with giant infrastructure projects given A BRIDGE TOO FAR: John Laing Operations Director Richard Groome at the his family history. North West Christmas luncheon Richard comes from a long line of engineers and his father not bricks which were to be shipped projects in the UK between only built the new London Bridge over to America so that they knew Wakefield and Wiltshire. These but he also sold the old one to the the order in which to put them include the £500m North Americans. back.” Staffordshire Hospital, the 16 “It is not true that they thought It seems that Richard can't get Greater Manchester police stations they were buying Tower Bridge,” away from bridges even in more the Manchester streetlighting Richard told North West retirees. recent years and was featured on (involving 66,000 lights) and the “Neither was it the London Bridge TV along with other Freemen of Barnsley schools project featured from the nursery rhyme which the City of London driving sheep on page 3. dates back about 800 years.” across Tower Bridge – for charity He added: “Manchester LIFT is The Americans were in fact buy- of course. the most exciting project from my ing the 1830 Rennie Bridge which, Manchester-based Richard is point of view, it is the new shape by the 1960s, was canting over keen on keeping links with of healthcare in the UK. At our site due to the traffic and also the retirees and gave fellow diners an in Salford you can pay your coun- 1million pedestrians which used it outline of the the current John cil tax, get library books, see the each year. Laing business. doctor or dentist. It is marvellous London Bridge was owned by the “We are still going strong with and carefully designed and built Bridge House Estates Trust and £1billion of contracts on the for easy access and especially for they came up with the plan to sell books. Laing is probably the UK’s older people to hold meetings. it off so as to replace it without second biggest public infrastruc- Among projects that the compa- having to dip into the public ture company. ny is in the running for is the purse. “The company is still working in Manchester Waste Project. This Richard added:”When I was 15 or Australia, Singapore, with big proj- would involve dealing with all the 16 I would spend my weekends at ects in Canada and India.” city’s waste and incinerating, pro- the docks helping to number the Richard manages operational cessing or recycling it.

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GENERAL NEWS

EVERGREEN: Members of Rowley Lane Bowls Club They’re still bowling along after 60 years

LAING retirees celebrate 60 years The Laing bowls section began in Finals at Leamington Spa repre- of playing bowls at Rowley Lane, 1949 with inter-departmental com- senting their club and Hertford- Arkley this year. petitions and by 1950 they had shire. The green was originally laid in started to play against local clubs. Pat Stamp and Marion Snell also 1948 by head gardener Bert Walsh In 2003, following the sale of the reached the last 16 in the over and a gang of Polish workers who land by Laing, the club changed its 55s pairs. spoke little English. In fact, they name to Rowley Lane Bowls Club, The club has two fully qualified subsequently laid out the whole but maintained the same members. coaches and anyone is welcome to complex which included a nine- The team has seen success over come along and try it out. hole golf course, cricket pitch, foot- the years and in 2008 two of their Call Pat Stamp (01923) 460065 or ball pitches and tennis courts. ladies teams reached the National email: [email protected] Plenty of mileage for M1 Thank you to everyone who newly finished road before it contacted us regarding the was open to traffic. M1. Most prevelant seems to be We will be putting together a memories about how hard special feature on the amazing everyone had to work to get project and will be talking to the contract finished. It all those who have kindly been appears to have been a perfect in touch during the next example of Laing at its best, month. everyone pulling together for Already some amazing tales the good of the project. have surfaced. Everything from If you have not been in touch the incredibly tough summer yet, but wish to share some of of 1958 when it never stopped your memories about the proj- raining to the Government ect you can call us on 01234 ministers and dignitories who 313055, or email info@retire- had the chance to drive on the mentmedia.com. BUILDING BRIDGES: One of many on the M1

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THE REBUILD OF CROYDON Regeneration of Croydon is ready to go THE desire for Croydon to become London’s third city is driving considerable change in the borough andthe latest scheme involving John Laing is forging ahead with the first planning applications due to be submitted in March. As part of Croydon’s regeneration plan, the council commissioned Will Alsop to create a masterplan combin- ing bold design with improved linkages across the town while also making it greener. The first computer generated illustration of how the scheme may look is pictured right. John Laing and Croydon Council recently announced the launch of Croydon Council Urban Regeneration Vehicle (CCURV) – the name of the ambitious regeneration agenda. CCURV will be funded through a Local Asset Backed Vehicle (LABV) – the first funding model of its kind in the UK. Through this John Laing and Croydon Council form a limited liability partnership (LLP) which sees Croydon Council contribute land and assets and John Laing com- mit equity and expertise. Both parties will receive a 50% share of the profits generated. A John Laing spokesman said: “This new funding model paves the way in the delivery of public sector infrastructure to benefit the public and private sectors, and more importantly to benefit people in the local communities served by the authority.” Four assets will be placed in the first part of development opportunities: I Taberner House, the council’s 40-year-old skyscraper headquarters I the council’s 1960s offices in Fell Road I College Green including the College’s arts teaching block as well as the underground and multi-storey car parks and the open space I the Tamworth annex site in West Croydon, a former school currently being used by the Primary Care Trust. The first project to start on site will be a 240,000 sq ft office building and public sector hub for the council. This will be located on the Fell Road site. Planning will be submitted in March 2009 and it is anticipated that building will start in September 2009. A John Laing spokesman said: “For the authority, the benefits of the URV approach are clear; Croydon Council will receive a share in profits over and above the value of the land but will retain greater ongoing control of their extensive regeneration agenda by retaining an interest as a partner-landowner as well as through utilis- ing their planning powers.”

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LD OF CROYDON

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GENERAL NEWS Indian road plan Peter tells JOHN LAING, in a con- for us being the first of drama sortium with HCC, a such award since we construction and infra- opened our Indian structure development office in spring 2008 in Mumbai company and Sadbhav and is our first trans- On the evening of 26th Engineering Ltd, has port project in Asia.” November 2009, I was been announced as The Ma1 Road is part scheduled to return to Delhi preferred bidder by of the National next day. Returning to my National Highway Highway Development hotel room I switched on Authority of India Programme (NHDP) – the local television to check (NHAI) to widen the Phase III-A which con- ASIA MD: Gary Lucas the news items before retir- 96.5 km highway from sists of the widening ing to bed. What I saw was Maharashtra-Madhya Laing said: “We are and strengthening of both incredible and disturb- Pradesh Border to delighted to be part of 4,000 km of National ing. No more than 20 min- Dhule. this project to develop Highways. I utes’ drive away guerrilla The cost of the proj- the road infrastructure Among those work- warfare was taking place on ect is 1415 Cr (£200m) in India, helping to ing in the India office is the streets and hotels in and is expected to take improve transport links Peter Jones. Featured Mumbai. 30 months to deliver. It and connecting places right is his own We were told to stay in the has an overall conces- of tourist and econom- account of the terror hotel. I eventually switched sion of 18 years. ic importance. It is an attack not far from his off the screen at 2am, but Gary Lucas of John important milestone hotel last November. the whole world is now aware of the scale and dura- tion of those terrorist attacks. At breakfast next Correct Cuneo morning the hotel was silent THANK you to those who contacted us as guests were glued to the following the Terence Cuneo article in the screens. At my allotted time last issue. I was driven by taxi to the We erroneously spelled the great artist’s airport.The chilling revela- name with a double ‘r’ in the last issue, tion that the terrorists were not to mention leaving the ‘e’ off his targeting UK and US pass- daughter’s name. Sorry. port holders meant I was Here are the correct contact details for glad to pass through the inquiries about the availability of his intense screening process work. Please contact his daughter Carole and on to a plane. The air- Cuneo at Cuneo Fine Arts, PO Box 1603, port was full of people leav- Salisbury, Wilts, SP3 6TQ. The website is: ing Mumbai as the atrocities www.terencecuneo.co.uk. SELF PORTRAIT: Terence Cuneo played on plasma screens in the lounges. I have never been in an airport lounge that was so quiet. I returned Engineers’ reunion reminder to my apartment safe but, I admit, shaken. My thanks to The Reunion of Laing Engineers and which is payable on the door. those of you who enquired Architects will be held again next However, please let Ian Jarvis know as to my safety, it is unfortu- year at the Sports Club in Rowley if you intend to come as numbers nately a risk of working in Lane. must be given in advance for cater- India that these things hap- It will take place on Thursday ing. pen though perhaps not on March 20, arrival at 12 noon for a To confirm your place, you can the scale witnessed over buffet lunch at 12.30. contact John Clark by telephoning those three days. The cost this year will be £12 01582 454984. Peter D Jones

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TEAM SPIRIT 50 YEARS AGO – 1959

FEATURED EMPLOYEES: From left, Frank King, cashier at Swindon, Jock McLaughlin, concrete ganger on Oxford Eastern bypass, John Jones and Alexander Fraser at Abingdon airfield, Sid Crane, checker at Swindon and Sid Spain, ganger at Blackfriars ‘well known for his dry sense of humour’.

THE Company was building an unusu- al roof at the national College of Food Technology in Weybridge. Shaped like a ‘flat-bottomed inverted boat’ the roof sat atop a hexagonal lecture hall and had be designed to ensure good acoustics. The weathering materials included a layer of green mineral felt on a layer of asbestos-based felt.

The Company announced that its latest film was called Major Road Ahead. The 20-minute account of the London to Yorkshire motorway (M1) was in full colour and the commentary was The investiture of Sir John Laing provided by the BBC’s Richard Baker. CBE (pictured with Lady Laing) at A review of 1958 in the same issue Buckinghm Palace on February 10. said: “One project will ensure the The birth of John Hedley Laing on prominence of 1958 in Company his- February 18 to Mr and Mrs Maurice tory. Some 55 miles of dual carriage- Laing was also announced way and 132 bridges are being built to the highest standards in the world wide. Ice cream ingredients would be in 19 months. It is the first full-scale kept on the ground floor and produc- national highway to be built since the tion lines would be on the upper. The Roman occupation of Britain.” factory was due to provide 1,000 jobs Aerial shot of Elstree plant which 18 and produce 45,000 gallons of ice acres had become overcrowded with An account of the children’s cream per shift. Plant demands. Christmas Party in Rhodesia revealed that 100 youngsters were entertained The first public service at Coventry ect alone was worth £5m. The fleet by pony and tractor rides, a film show Cathedral was televised on BBC1, a included double-decker buses and and a conjurer. It was revealed that watchnight service on new year’s eve. even ‘an additional 100 motor-cycles’ Father Christmas (H Thomson) alongside the heavy vehicles arrived down a chimney created by In Canada Grosvenor Laing acquired a Landrovers and Austin Gypsies. carpenters on site and was assisted 3,000-acre industrial site in British Due to the size of various sites (the by two fairies. Columbia. M1 was 50 miles long) the Company They reached a deal with the Western decentralised plant and transport, Work began in February for a £2mil- Development and Power Corporation splitting the country up into ‘about lion factory on the outskirts of to acquire the site at Langley, some half a dozen areas’ for which a repre- Gloucester for T Wall and Sons 25 miles outside Vancouver. The new sentative would be responsible for Limited, the ice cream manufacturers. scheme would be largely British and inspecting the equipment. The contract would be carried out at follow the same lines as the Annacis ‘top speed’ as the project length was project. In South Africa Laing had completed only 17 months. There would be a A special feature highlighted the the Zuikerbosch contract for the peak labour force of 700 men. Most importance of the Plant and Transport Rand Water Board which would important of the factory buildings Department within Laing. By 1959 it ensure adequate water supplies by would be the production area, two numbered thousands of vehicles. The providing a daily output of 40million storeys and 500ft long and 162ft plant in use on the M1 motorway proj- gallons.

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TEAM SPIRIT 25 YEARS AGO – 1984

South Eastern Region opened a new area office for East Anglia at Bury St Edmonds. They hoped to develop and expand contacts with new clients from the base and make Laing a ‘significant contractor’ in the area. Superintending estimator Brendan Minahan and commercial manager Ian Renouf were key members of the team.

Laing Homes Scottish area completed negotia- Pictured here are: the team working on the Holcombe part of the tions for what was thought to be the UK’s Lancashire reservoir projects mentioned left. From left: Bob largest ever residential housing project. Padgett, Frank Whelan, Anthony Fuller, LG Mouchel, Frank Coyne, The Waterfront in Glasgow would transform Seamus Durcan, Chris Ellis and Phil Snook. the 95-acre site which was formerly Prince’s Dock. More than 1,400 residential units were due to be built on site alongside a marina, Team Spirit reflect- boatyard, sheltered housing, pub and exhibi- ed on a difficult tion centre. year in Iraq where they were under- Laing Midlands completed Birmingham Airport taking a £120mil- 18 weeks ahead of schedule and it was being lion roads project hailed as a fine example of British workman- while the country ship at its best by the national media. was at war. Quite The new airport offered ‘the most modern aside from the baggage and flight information systems as scale and complexi- well as a ‘computer controlled environment’ to ty of the project a maintain a pleasant atmosphere. shortage of diesel supplies – the proj- In the remote villages of Saddleworth and ect was getting Diggle, Laing was undertaking a £1.9million through 30,000 importing from interchanges and civil engineering project to build the new litres a day – and Kuwait and six major service diver- Blackmoorfoot Water Treatment Works in the fact that the months of negotia- sion operations, Lancashire. The weather played a major role in Iraqi government tion with John 40km of electric the project which included a 2.5million-litre requested that they Renshaw and John cables and 25km of concrete reservoir at Dobcross. The floor of defer payment for Armitt shuttling service pipework. the reservoir had to be cast in two separate two years were between London The whole job layers. major threats to and Baghdad finally involved 80 Laing To ensure that there were no scaffolding the project’s com- marks to impair the finish of the roof, its final resolved the pay- ex-patriate staff, pletion. layer had to be poured through the access ment issues. 1,220 from The diesel problem chambers. This involved some pumping but The project Pakistan and 30 was solved by also ‘many men with many barrows.’ involved seven from Iraq.

The Southern Region team charged with providing ‘various types of dwelling’ for three different housing co-operatives on the same site. The team, pictured here from left to right: Back row: Andrew Dudley, Steve Stirrups, Brendan Croning, Brian Oldham, Chris Marshall, Phill Gardener, Harold Peacock, Doug Jones and Sondhu. Third row: Mick Harland, Chris Baker, Kevin Smith, Ben Colgate, Glen Williams,. Second row: Curly Stewart, Paul Sapsford, Kevin Mooney, Caroline Moss, John Lynch, Burt Deallie, Mike Braun, Dick Draper, Charley Pemble, Paul Attwell, Paul Martin. Front row: Dennis Humphreys, Dave Boyce, John Robinson, John Marshall, Tony Covil and Chris Tomson.

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TEAM SPIRIT 10 YEARS AGO – 1999

LAING Homes picked up two of the Staff at coveted ‘Oscars’ for the housebuild- Plant, St ing industry organised by What Neots House? and the Sunday Times. presenting Judges noted that Laing Homes was Group ‘a premium’ housebuilder as the Chairman company won silver in the Best Sir Martin Volume Housebuilder and Best Laing with a cross Energy Saving Home categories. stritch Judges were also impressed by the tapestry fact that Laing’s average selling marking price had continued to increase the despite the company dropping vol- Company’s ume in the previous four years. 150th anniversary. The Swansea Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) won the Concrete Society’s Excellence in Concrete award. The £17m project for Welsh Water came top of a shortlist of 13 in the civil engineering category and was judged on ‘func- tional suitability, design, workman- ship and value for money’. The quality of landscaping on the project and the lengths gone to in blending the project in with the local environment were also taken into consideration with a separate British Association of Landscape Industries national award.

Two Laing divisions joined forces to clean up a former chemical research facility site to make way for a development of luxury homes at Beckenham in Kent. The British Library, managed by Laing Technology Group (LTG) and Laing, won the Special Award for Laing Limited formed a team to interior brickwork from the decommission the 77-acre site Brick Development Association. which had been a GlaxoWellcome Judges said: “The interior brickwork is of exceptionally high research site. quality. As well as walls, brick is LTG identified areas of contamina- used on floors, ceilings and tion including the drainage areas, arches and contributes to an former stables, former fuel storage appropriate sense of serenity areas and and two filled former and dignity.” gravel pits. Before the Environment Government Minister Chris Smith Agency would declare the area safe described the library as ‘one of for development lorries had to the greatest cultural buildings to remove 50,000 cubic metres of be built this century’. Now commonplace, Laing was waste over six months. in the forefront of contractors using hoardings with giant pic- John Laing Group acquired a control- Laing Hyder won the Company’s tures on them to make inner ling interest in M40 Trains Limited, first PFI school contract. There were city construction projects less the holding company for Chiltern 20 other companies in the running of an eyesore. Pictured is the Railways in a £6m deal. John Laing to build, manage and maintain an Great Eastern Hotel which won Investments director Alan Chaney Enfield Council in World’s End Lane. a gold award in the said: “This deal forms a key step in The school would be built by Laing Corporation of London our long-term strategy to strengthen Limited for 1,290 pupils in a Considerate Constructors’ our position in the rail industry.” £16.5m deal. Award.

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ELSTREE TV EXPERIENCE

DOZEN DOYENS: The TV Toppers in 1952 and Joan today, inset Joan was born to dance WHEN Joan Smedley (nee It was pure chance that a diner at the Elstree Christmas Walker) was taken to see local Luncheon recognised Joan Smedley from her Television dance show at the age of three, she knew that was what she days as one of the original TV Toppers dancers. The wanted to do. ensuing conversation led to further revelations about Joan’s sister had taken her to another famous TV performance from one of the members. the children’s show in Edgware and saw how enthralled Joan show was at the new Cadbury’s own dance school. was by the whole event. factory in Scotland to mark its In fact, dance has nearly “She said to me afterwards, is opening,” said Joan. “They had a always been a major part of her that what you would like to do,” type of ballroom and we danced life. said Joan. “I knew that it was the on the stage there, “After that She married Laing man Alf only thing I wanted to do and we danced at music halls and Smedley, a man whose brick- signed up for a local dance all kinds of shows. We were work expertise is still admired school which turned out to be often on the same bill as by many on buildings in the the first of many.” famous comedians from the capital to this day. It was hard work and hard time and singers like Frankie These days, despite the vast training, Joan had to learn all Vaughan.” popularity of Strictly Come kinds of dancing including tap Only a short while ago Joan Dancing, Joan is not particularly and ballet. found out that her ballet tutor taken with it. She said: “It is just Then, in her 20s, came the had been widely recognised as not like the dancing I knew, chance to audition for a new one of Britain’s very best ever. people are trained up too quick- dance group called the TV She has also been contacted by ly. However, I do watch Dancing Toppers. She came through the The Stage when they wanted to on Ice. It is so much more diffi- audition and was one of the carry a feature about the cult to perform those types of original troupe which appeared famous dancers. dances on ice and the end prod- on television in the early 50s. Joan continued dancing into uct, when done properly, is so “I remember that our first her 30s and even set up her graceful.”

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V EXPERIENCE Tuning in to the Life is name of the very latest WHEN it comes to more up-to-date game for Malcolm television Shirley Napier and ANOTHER Elstree retiree told us of his Margaret Adams. television experience as a contestant had experiences on the Generation Game back when it connected to two was one of the most successful pro- of the most popu- grammes on television. lar shows on TV at The show took it's inspiration from the moment. the Dutch Show 'Een Van De Aacht', The major award- which mixed a chat show format with winning Gavin and games, The Generation Game pitched Stacy, is a romantic couples a generation apart. They comedy set weren't married, but uncles and nieces, between Essex and mothers and sons etc. Barry in Wales. The couples would battle it out in Shirley, whilst not contests such as pot throwing and having been on the plate spinning. The two winning cou- show was amazed ples would go through to the next to find that the round, which invariably involved some scenes from Barry kind of performance. are filmed in the “I remember our first round involved a road where she yodelling contest,” said Laing retiree was brought up. Malcolm Smith. “It couldn’t have been a Margaret Adams worse contest for me because I can’t had an interesting sing a note, but we got through to the point to make next round. about Celebrity Big “Next we had to dance the paso doble. Brother. She lives I remember that Bob Holness was near the studios in among the judges. I thought we did Elstree where it is really well although the other couple, filmed and always who were lovely, were much funnier NICE TO SEE YOU: Bruce Forsyth, and knows when it is because they couldn’t dance it at all. Malcolm inset being screened Bob Holness awarded them the winning because the crowd points on entertainment value, but the Forsyth. The show must have been a noise. audience did not seem convinced and good one as Malcolm and his daugh- Margaret tuned in shortly afterwards they changed the ter’s efforts were shown on the the other day hav- format so that the audience would Christmas special. However, the ing heard the decide the winner.” biggest surprise came on the Monday crowd and was sur- Sadly Malcolm did not make it to the after the first show had been screened. prised to find that famous conveyer belt of prizes but had At that time Malcolm worked behind the programme a wonderful time. the counter at Berwick Street Post was not on, appar- He said: “It was an amazing day, we Office in London. ently being were put up in a top hotel and on the “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “That screened ten min- day of filming we were given a tour of morning there was a queue of people utes later, possibly the studios and offered refreshments. right out of the door. Some of the to avoid any We were really well looked after.” counters were free, but loads of them unsavoury broad- Before the show they got ready and had recognised me from the show and casting having been made up were warned not wanted to tell me they had seen it. It to try and ‘out-improvise’ Bruce was amazing.”

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CLUB NEWS

CLUB CONTACTS

Cumbria Margaret Levin REALM (Midlands) Rowland Seymour 01228-526374 01159 165199 Elstree Shirley Napier Saltire (Scotland) Jim Saunders 020 8207 5110 01324 638896 LNER John Crosby Solare 0191 262 4978 (South West London) Bill Blamire North West Roy Elliott 01737 553174 0161 962 7175 South West Geoff Luckett REAL (North London) Pauline Bryant 01934 843077 020 8907 2166

Why not try CLUB EVENTS a retirement REAL SALTIRE Events held at Allum Hall, March 10 Borehamwood Maurice Ashbridge is giving club near April 1 an Illustrated Talk on the Fish and chips and a quiz countries of South America and Antarctica at St Stevens your home? from 2pm, with tea and April 16 THERE are nine Laing retirement biscuits afterwards Pub lunch clubs around the country stretch- ing from Scotland down to the April 14 South West. May 6 2009 Mystery Coach Tour They all hold regular events and Ploughmans starting at 11am from provide people with the chance to North Hanover St,. socialise. Some of the clubs May 21 Glasgow. organise a holiday each year. Visit to Drapers Hall All events and outings are carefully arranged to ensure that the May 20 needs of those attending are SOUTH WEST Theatre visit to see 'Jolson' catered for. March 12 at the KingsTheatre These are aside from the two Early Spring Lunch at Glasgow, performance major events each year, the Saltford Golf Club starts at 2.30pm. Lunch at President’s Day Summer Outing the 'Koh-I-Noor' 12.30pm. and the club Christmas luncheons. April 2 Lady Stephanie Laing is Honorary SOLARE : president of the clubs and hosts Skittles and lunch the Summer Outings each June. March 25 The club will be holdinga If you are interested in joining, April 23 social event and AGM. call the club contact nearest to Late Spring Lunch you in the box at the top of the Entertainment will be pro- page. vided by a magician and If you are unsure of the best club May 28 there will be a buffet lunch. to contact call Laing Welfare or Skittles and lunch contact us at the numbers on the inside cover of this magazine. Contact clubs direct for more details

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CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONS Christmas Luncheon report THIS year saw a surprise increase in members at the Christmas luncheons with new members turning up at North West, Carlisle and Realm among others. Part of the reason for this is a number of new retirees from Laing O’Rourke who went there when construction was sold off in 2001. As space is at a premium, there is a collage of some of the many people who came along the Christmas events. These events are not just about catching up on old times, the con- HOT TOPICS: You may wonder what all these images have to do with the versation is lively and friendly cov- Christmas luncheons. They represent some of the hottest topics of conversa- ering all types of issues. tion: crayfish, Strictly Come Dancing, dogs, sustainable energy and ‘faked First up was the Tooth Fairy. potatoes’ Shirley Blamire’s granddaughter had recently lost her first dressing up again until he put them arbiters. tooth.Her mother was canvassing right. There was concern for dogs as to find out what the going rate for Solare stalwart Cyril Blackburn has fireworks seem to be an all-year teeth was these days. One of her been a leading campaigner in get- round occurrence these days. Not friends has a tooth fairy who ting the MoD to award a Suez Canal only are they set off more regular- hands out £10 per tooth. And we medal to people who saw active ly, but displays appear to be thought inflation was on the services out there. longer and louder. Two people at decrease. There was a partial victory when the Solare luncheon said their Then there was the mysterious the Government agreed to award a dogs had still not recovered from case of the ‘faked potatoes’ at the medal a couple of years ago. the trauma of fireworks night. Toby Carvery in Borehamwood However, Cyril has not let it rest Fuel costs were weighing on during the Elstree luncheon. there and continues to campaign many people’s minds, however at As the chef carved the meat, for all people who served there to Realm our table in particular was queuing diners were busily scoop- be recognised. looking at the overview regarding ing up some of the delicious-look- Coincidentally South West mem- how this country planned to pro- ing potatoes in front of the meat – ber Alan Thorpe might be one of vide its own power in the future. it was help yourself to veg after all. those who benefits should the gov- The main options appear to be The chef had to keep pointing out ernment change its mind. He just wind farms and nuclear power. that they were not real, but plastic missed out on a Suez medal despite Richard Broadbent is among the potatoes and that the real potatoes seeing active service there in 1950. many Laing retirees who have lent were further along. It seems the medal, awarded retro- their expertise to helping commu- In Bristol Roy Merrett is usually spectively, only covers those who nity projects. He is part of a team either out collecting for Normandy served between 1951-54. in the process of adding a wind veterans or watching beloved Invariably, the hot topics of con- turbine to a community centre. It Bristol City. versation at the luncheons includ- will be of great benefit to the cen- He usually dresses up for the big ed the credit crunch, you can see tre and will be mainly funded footballing occasions, notably in a why Dave Thomson from Saltire through a Government backed white tux and red bow tie when was more worried about crayfish scheme which encourages landfill they were knocked out of the play- on page19. Also the departure of site operators to provide sustain- offs last year at Wembley by Hull John Sargant from Strictly Come able energy means for communi- City. The other weekend he com- Dancing was widely discussed. ties. However, Richard does not bined the two, collecting for the The general consensus seemed to believe that it would otherwise be vets while at Bristol City’s game. be that he was not good enough viable and could never cover its When the crowd saw his collection to win it on merit, however, the own cost during its lifetime. of medals they thought he was audience should be the final Alex Finkenrath

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CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONS

FROM LEFT: Top: Betty Hagart and Beryl Henry, Pat and John Tully, Mike James and Mike Webb. Second FROM LEFT: Top: Chig Gibson and Ray Ritchie, Kitty row: Bill and Shirley Blamire, Teresa Piekarski, Stan Ainsley. Second row: Ann and Bob Warner, Pat and Karbownicki, Ray Phillips and Ray Wright. Third row: Rose Mortimer, Jean and Tom Rushton. Third row: Enid George and Jean Cant, Mike and Joyce Le Monnier. and Len Hall, John and Peggy Costello. Bottom row: Bottom row: Rona nd Margaret Richards, Jim Glynn, Rowland Seymour, Kathleen Woodcock, Pam Seymour, Gil and Betty Lumley Stan Utting, Phil Nunn and Maria Kijowski SOLARE – ANTOINETTE gave another great HOTEL, DECEMBER 3 example of what it was REALM – MANOR HOTEL the Bull Ring (second Stan Jarman is a very like. When the couple MERIDON DECEMBER 9 time round), The M40 active sort with his were married, Mike was Chig Gibson revealed he and Center Parcs, which bowls, golf and walking. working on a job at had been a useful rugby was his most memorable However he confesses to Didcot in Oxfordshire player in his time. project as they were in have met his match they tied the knot in “Lightning they used to the middle of nowhere when it comes to his October and just before call me,” he said. As a and were not pestered by local walking club which Christmas Joyce got her- Leicester schoolboy he the public. is run by ‘a maniac ori- self a nice little job at a played for the county Bob Warren,attending enteering enthusiast’. solicitors’ firm in Oxford. and all over the country with wife Ann, spent 44 This man, in his late On Christmas Eve, Mike with none other than the years with Laing and 60s or early 70s attends had to come home and lead singer of Shawaddy O’Rourke and ended up the world orienteering tell his new wife that as Waddy Bob Ragg plus as project manager. championships in of the new year the cou- another member of the He started out as an Switzerland. You might ple were moving to band. apprentice joiner in think it is a young man’s Aberdair in Wales and be Two new couples were North London before game, but two years ago living in a caravan. welcomed along, both moving on to at least three of the com- Joyce said: “I can only gentlemen had recently Peterborough and then petitors were 90-year- have been in my new job retired from Laing. Tom the north west and mid- olds. for two weeks, then it Rushton, attending with lands. He worked on Stan added that this ori- was life in a caravan for wife Jean, started with Fylde Hospital, Wheaton enteering chap had the next nine years.” Laing in 1972. Camp, Stoke City General recently wondered why Mike worked at Laings He has been a checker, Hospital and Dereford numbers were thinning for 43 years, starting out timekeeper and many Hospital. at the club which is sup- as a carpenter then fore- other things during his DRA Haslet Dereford posed to only do five man joiner and eventual- time with the Company. gave him the most satis- miles. ly becoming a project He was made redundant faction as they went Stan also said: “I didn’t manager. in 1986 and taken on down with no team and mind getting older when The raffle raised £120 again three months later. built one up from I felt young.” and the club announced He became an office scratch. He said: “It was a A lot has been made of that its chosen charity manager with O’Rourke. great project, we built a the Laing life, but Mike next year would be Help Among the many proj- great hospital on time and Joyce Le Monnier the Heroes. ects he worked on were and under budget .

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AS LUNCHEONS

FROM LEFT: Top: Ken Cole, Maureen and Bill McGarrie, Frances and Bill Eaton. Second row: FROM LEFT: Top: John Barrow,George Mitchell, Sheila Barrow, Mike McKenna, Lillian James, Frank Higgs, Colin Alan and Evelyn Crowther. Second row: Tony Douglas and and Margaret Nyland. Bottom row: Iris Commons, Keith Warwick, Ted and Mavis Drinkwater, Bob Levin. Third Jessie Hood, Finbar and Susan Carroll row: Bob and Maureen Peat, Jim Davidson, Margaret Wools and Jean McAvoy. Bottom row: Joyce Richardson and Mrs Dunglinson, Edna and Alan Sim and Patricia Corrie. NORTH WEST building, alongside CARLISLE Debenhams, GPO Sorting DECEMBER 4 another member DECEMBER 10 Office, Manchester BRITANNIA Finbar Carroll. He GREENHILL HOTEL, WIGTON Bridgewater Hall and Sands COUNTRY HS HOTEL also worked with Leisure Centre. However, Laing International There are three new cou- he also worked on the The club was and Laing Homes ples at the club, although Scottish Parliament with delighted to wel- briefly. only two could make it on Laing O'Rourke which was come a new mem- Manchester-based the day. memorable in itself. ber, Ken Cole. Richard Groome The first was Alan and He was pretty much the The 84-year-old from John Laing Evelyn Crowther. Alan last Laing man out of started with the joined members for went on to work for Carlisle working with the company in 1956 as the luncheon. O'Rourke following the stonemasons dept until a planning officer on The Operations sale of the construction O'Rourke finally moved it to the M1 project. He director outlined a company. Manchester where it was worked at many lot of the company’s However, he started out consolidated with their own sites around the work and said it was with Laing in 1960 and stonemasonry depot, which place including a still going strong worked on and off with the had been based in St Neots. spell abroad in with £1bn of con- company and O'Rourke Keith and Vera Warwick Saudi Arabia, stay- tracts on the books. until his retirement. are also new members. He ing until 1989. He Chairman Roy He was a QS by trade and started with the company also worked on Elliott thanked the was made redundant in in 1967 and worked for three open cast committee, restau- 1992. It was a particularly them on and off for about mines. In Derbyshire rant staff and the tough time but in 1994 he 12 years as a joiner. He he was responsible guests. He also said found his way back into began at Penryth Hospital for all blasting and that the club would Laing in the stonemasonry and also on Durran Hill surveying. pass on regards to department. This led to housing , a scheme of He attended the club’s oldest the happiest working days about 100 homes which Manchester honourary member of his career and he stayed they got done in double Technical College Doris Filby who can there until 2006. He had a quick time he recalls. after he left the no longer make the great set of lads working He has been a joiner for army before he went meetings. with him and was doing a 50 years in total working on to Laing. The raffle raised job he enjoyed. for various companies in There he was £50. Among the memorable the areas including the city involved with the CIS projects he recalls are council.

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CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONS

FROM LEFT: Top: Joe and Doreen Beck, George and Moira Bell, REAL: FROM LEFT: Top: Mike White (Laing). Second row: Roy and Rita Bettney, Geoff Second row: Josie Shingle, ???? and Alan Chaney, and Michael Blakey, Arthur Smith, Jean Fergusson and Bill Jackson. Third row: Bob and Mary Kelly, Hilary Armatage and Bottom row: Dias, Nigel Clark Marie Fergusson (Laing) Paul and Cyril Wallace. Bottom row: Sarah Fitzpatrick,and Anne Foster, Sue and Malcolm Reid, Betty Walton and daughter-in-law, Bill Childs LNER this year after a 30-years. REAL AND ELSTREE DECEMBER 11 Brenda Seed, chairwoman DECEMBER 10 AND JANUARY 6 ASSEMBLY ROOMS of Seaham Central BUSHEY POLICE SOCIAL CLUB AND Townswomen’s Guild OAKLANDS TOBY CARVERY BOREHAMWOOD Jack and Eileen Hensderson recalled the time that a fire- The two north London clubs had fun-filled didn’t want to make a big man came to talk to them. Christmas luncheons. Thank you to Bill fuss about their Golden Asked if he had any funny Malcolm who kindly provided photographs Wedding anniversary last stories he told of the time of the REAL event which clashed with the year, but revealed some of he was called out to rescue LNER luncheon. the amazing stories of a woman in the bath whose their holiday break. toe was stuck in the tap.” The couple were caught Cyril Wallace was attend- up in a bomb scare at ing with his son Paul. Cyril Heathrow and were stuck was a bricklayer whom there for four days, Jack agents always wanted on slept on a mattress in the their site as he ‘was a bit of baggage area. His wife an all rounder and could managed to get hold of a finish things off near the chair. British Airways did end of jobs and sort things them proud with an out’ upgrade to club class for He started with Laing in their flight to Dubai. They 1966 and continued there stayed opposite the world until 1984. His wife did not famous ‘seven-star’ Burj Al wish to move to Scotland so Arab hotel, and decided to he ended up joining a visit. They had to dress up monastry for retired nuns just to go inside. and monks, where he Their trip ended with a trained yongsters in brick spell in New Zealand. work as this was all carried ELSTREE FROM LEFT: Top: Ann Smith and Margaret Michael Blakey attended out in house. He also spent Adams, Syd and Florrie Bull. Second row: Don Putman, Eve and Mick Glover, ?????? Don Dexter. with son Geoff, who retired two years working for Bottom row: Ginny Dean, from the fire service earlier Sedgefield Borough Council.

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AS LUNCHEONS

FROM LEFT: Top: John and Gwyn Pearce, Ray Hudman, FROM LEFT: Top: ?????? and ???? Kennedy, Marie Cullen, Cliff Skinner, Shamrock Jones, Joan Skinner. Second Norah Payton and Joyce Tullet. Second row: Hugh row: Peter Rowe ???????, Peggy and Bob Goodfellow, McGeoch and Jim McFadden, Walker and Rhoda Hodgson. Geoff Luckett. Third row: Bill Norrie and Rowley Rogers, Third row: John Dixon, Alan and Margaret Kirkwood. Betty Challis and Christine and Gordon Pirrie. Bottom row: George Dixon, Bridget White, Bob Curran and Dorrie Gordon SOUTH WEST skills sharp by building SALTIRE They seem to have JANUARY 14 rocking horses and very JANUARY 13 taken over the Clyde,” he BRENT HOUSE, BRENT detailed dolls’ houses. THE MILLENNIUM said. “If you kick over a Among his favourite HOTEL GLASGOW stone they all come scur- There was a big welcome jobs with Laing were rying out. They bore for two new members, Eagle Star in Cheltenham Tom McVeigh recalled holes in the river banks John Pearce and Ray and a major housing breaking the soil on the which leads to erosion. I Hudman. project at Newport. He Glasgow Royal Infirmary have to say, they are John, who started out as also enjoyed making all back in October 1973. good eating though.” a carpenter and ended up the shuttering at the start The project was only due A favourite project he as a site agent during his of the St David’s Concert to last until 1980, but worked on during his 41 years with the compa- Hall project in Cardiff. with various add-ons, it time as a quantity sur- ny has become quite a Ray Hudson recently continued for years after. veyor with Laing involved mountaineer, mainly retired from Laing John Dixon is a bit of a himself and colleagues since he was given four O’Rourke where he was a dab-hand when it comes from Scotland and months to live. The doc- construction manager. to finding the best value Northern Ireland being tor told his wife Gwyn, He spent 26 years with flights on the internet. flown out to work on the but she did not tell John, Laing in a career which The latest site he has Courtaulds factory instead encouraging him included Bristol found is Skyscanners and LetterKenny in County to do all the things he Magistrates Courts, gives the lowest priced Donegal, Ireland. wanted to in life. London Life office build- flights both ways and not It provided a classic Since then he has ing and Dorchester necessarily using the example of the Laing climbed Kilimanjarro and Hospital at Swindon. same airline. way. The large group Mount Tobkai in north Bill Norrie recalled an Many subjects of were all allowed to claim Africa as well as all the early connection between national concern came for ‘moderate drinks’ highest UK peaks. He has Laing and Poland when up over lunch, not least expenses, but only dur- even jumped off the he was one of 600 men the credit crunch, howev- ing the winter months. 630ft Sky Tower in New flown out to work on a er fisherman David “I think they wanted us Zealand. That’s not to new PVC factory there. He Thomson was more con- to play tennis and go out mention the 195-mile said it was only polite for cerned with the current for walks on the beach coast to coast walk. the men to try the local invasion of American during the summer In his spare time John vodka in their out-of- crayfish. months,” he said. keeps his wood-working work hours.

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MAJOR BIRTHDAYS AND AN NIVERSARIES

Laing couples’ Diamond days DIAMOND WEDDINGS John & Brenda Taylor 8 January

Joe & Sheila Burke 1 January GOLDEN WEDDINGS GEORGE AND TONI HARRIS cele- serve him. George had to come brated their Diamong Wedding on down himself. They met in the Ron & Pat Baker December 8, 2008 January, were engaged in April They met when Toni worked in a and married in December of the 29 November tobacconist in Vincent Street and same year. George sent his junior in to buy George spent 20 years with Laing, some tobacco. It was still starting out as a QS. He was then rationed in those days and Toni moved to the estimating depart- Paul & Marion knew that the junior had already ment where his three-week spell McMorrow had his quota so she refused to turned into eight years. 26 December

Andrew & Mary Walsh 10 Janaury

Send your Anniversary details to Retirement Media or call us on 01234 STAN AND MARGARET RUSH cele- ing director of the building divi- brated their Diamond Wedding on sion, until his retirement. He also 313055. December 4 2008 drove Sir John Laing and Sir Alternatively They met in August 1945 when Maurice Laing. Stan was on disembarkation leave The couple celebrated their contact the after RAF service abroad. anniversary with a holiday to Laing Welfare Stan worked as a chauffeur with Fuerteventura having already cele- Laing for Mr Charles Craft, manag- brated with friends and family. Department.

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S AND ANNIVERSARIES

JOHN AND SYLVIA ROBINSON celebrated their MAURICE AND MARGARET LONE celebrated Golden Wedding on January 8, 2009 their Golden Wedding on November 29 2008 The couple met at Cummersdale Dance (just up the road from Dalston according to John). “I really did see The couple met at a friend’s house in her across a crowded room,” said John. The couple - Glasgow. This was prior to Maurice’s 30 got talking and liked each other, but there was a lot years, with broken service, at Laing. of waiting to do as she was still only 15. The couple are Glasgow through and That was in 1953 and they were finally married in through and Maurice spent his working days 1959 after John had completed his national service as a general labourer on many of the city’s between 1956-58. top projects. His favourite project was the John was a joiner at Laing for 47 years and worked Glasgow Royal Infirmary He was there when on many great contracts, although the most memo- it started in 1973 and still there 12 years rable one was the Civic Centre. “That was the best later when they had started moving patients job we ever did,” said John, “there was loads of bonus in. and overtime and it was a cracking piece of work.” The couple have two children.

MARTIN AND CHRISTINE Celebrations of 90th McCOY celebrated their and 95th Birthdays Golden Wedding on February 7 2009. The couple met at a dance on Tottenham Court road, before he embarked on a 26-year career with the company. He enjoyed his tim with Laing and spent an awful lot of it slabbing. The couple have two sons and a daughter.

Pat Curran (pictured) 90 PETER AND on September 18, 2008 MARY INWOOD celebrated Jim Sullivan – 90 on their Golden January 8, 2009 Wedding on January 17, Frank Smith – 95 on 2009. November 22, 2008

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WELFARE NEWS

Some general Welfare news Pension Credit The Government announced that the minimum guaran- tee of pension credit will go up to ensure that single people receive £130 and couples £198.45 for 2009- 2010. If you think you should be receiving Pension Credit, call the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 99 1234. Pensioners should also have COOL SCHEME: The Message in a Bottle contains medical details and a received increased winter sticker for the fridge to show emergency services that you have signed up fuel payments.. If you have any queries contact the Winter Fuel Payment Message in a Helpline on 0845 915 1515. bottle scheme A SCHEME being promoted which carries details about any Hear your books around the country is saving medication a person is on and Calibre Audio Library pro- emergency services up to two where they keep it. We advise vides a free postal lending days when it comes to helping people with repeat prescriptions service of audio books for vulnerable people in their homes. to leave those by the medication.” people who struggle to read. The Message in a Bottle Scheme The reason that the bottle is This may be because of does exactly what it says. Vital kept in the fridge is because it is sight problems, dyslexia or information about householders’ the safest place. not being able to physically medical conditions, allergies and It all started with Tayside police- hold a book. medication are left in a bottle in man who thought it would be a If you are interested in join- the fridge so that emergency serv- good idea for emergency services ing the library, just phone ices can find the information dealing with people in remote 01296 432 339, email about a householder as soon as areas. It is now spreading across [email protected] or they arrive at the scene. the country and the world. visit the website www.cali- The scheme is being promoted Welfare officer Tony Edwards nationally by the Lions Club. alerted us to the scheme which is bre.org.uk. National Message In A Bottle operating in Dorset. (MIAB) co-ordinator Iain Pudney If you want to know whether the Charities to merge said: “This simple scheme can scheme is operating in your own BRITAIN’S two biggest chari- save emergency services up to two area, Mr Pudney recommends ties dedicated to older peo- days by providing vital details. that you ask at your local phar- ple have announced plans “In some cases that is how long mac. to merge later this year. it can take to track down the next He added: “There are gaps Age Concern and Help the of kin or to find out about serous around the country, but most Aged will become a single medical conditions which may not places are using the scheme now organisation. be obvious at first. and we are hopeful that it could “There is a simple form to fill in be everywhere before long.”

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IN MEMORIAM

Eric Ballard, formerly Parent Bill Houston, formerly a 77 years of age and retired Board Director, with John Contracts Manager with Civil in 1996 after 30 years’ serv- Laing plc, died on Wednesday Engineering, died on Sunday ice. 14 January 2009. He was 80 11 January 2009. He was 93 years of age and retired in years of age and retired in Jack Lovick, formerly a 1982 after 33 years’ service. 1980 after 11 years’ service. Buyer with JLI, died on Tuesday 18 November 2008. Eric Burton, formerly a Bench Pat Hughes, formerly a He was 87 years of age and Joiner with Victoria Joinery, Project Services Engineer retired in 1980 after 7 years’ died on Friday 23 January with JLDA Havant, died on service. 2009. He was 87 years of age Wednesday 10 December and retired in 1986 after 29 2008 ). He was 92 years of Joan Pacheco, formerly a years’ service. age and retired in 1980 after 8 years’ service. Clerical Officer with the Mary Cleaton, formerly an Family Trust office, Mill Hill, Accounts Clerk with South Reginald Hulme, formerly a died on Saturday 17 January West region, died on Friday 16 Site Manager with Laing, 2009. She was 77 years of January 2009. She was 82 North west region, died on age and retired in 1989 after years of age and retired in Monday 22 December 2008. 22 years’ service. 1991 after 29 years’ service. He was 82 years of age and retired in 1991 after 28 Peter Robins, formerly Supt. Bill Cumming, formerly an years’ service. Purchasing Officer with JLC, Electricial Engineer with EPL, South west region, died on Carlisle, died on Friday 30 George Hurrell, formerly a Wednesday 19 November January 2009. He was 75 General Foreman with Civil 2008. He was 81 years of years of age and retired in Engineering, died on age and retired in 1989 after 1998 after 32 years’ service. Thursday 22 January 2009. 46 years’ service. He was 96 years of age and Leonard Hall, formerly a retired in 1976 after 25 Jack Sutton, formerly a Plant Mechanical Design Engineer years’ service. Fitter with EPL, North East with L I E & C, died on Monday region, died on Friday 23 26 January 2009. He was 72 Vi Jones, formerly a Canteen January 2008. He was 90 years of age and retired in Assistant with South West years of age and retired in 1990 after 15 years’ service. region, died on Thursday 15 January 2009. She was 87 1983 after 33 years’ service. Brian Hambidge, formerly years of age and retired in Director, Planning & 1981 after 16 years’ service. Nelson Whittle, formerly a Rescourcing, John Laing Site Manager with John Laing Construction, Mill Hill, died on Derek Lawrence, formerly Construction, North west Friday 12 December 2008. He Chief Building Services region, died on Thursday 11 was 74 years of age and Engineer, with Laing December 2008. He was 80 retired in 1989 after 38 years’ Technology Group, died on years of age and retired in service. 29 December 2008. He was 1980 after 29 years’ service.

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