On Monday 2 October, gcp hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning bake sale at our office in Warmley. We had some delicious cakes and treats baked and bought by our team and enjoyed by the Corum offices. It was a great chance for the staff to get involved in a worthy cause and amazing to see how many people came out to have a try of the efforts. A huge thank you to all those who got involved or donated, we are delighted to have raised over £200 and will look forward to smashing this total next year.
To support our ISO9001 & ISO14001 Quality & Environmental Management System Accreditation, gcp run a Customer Satisfaction Survey every two years. This feedback helps us with our commitment to continuous improvement and enables us to tailor our services to the current needs of our clients.
Thank you to everyone who recently responded to our Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.
A few highlights from the responses:
93% of respondents are very likely to recommend us to a colleague
96% of respondents are “very satisfied” with gcp
82% of respondents say we “added value” to their project
75% say we are “high quality”
96% of respondents say we are “reliable”
72% say the quality of our advice and support is “excellent: I felt gcp cared about me and my needs” with the remaining 28% responding “good: a knowledgeable, professional service”
If you missed out on giving feedback, you can still do so by emailing your contact at gcp. If you would like an in-depth project feedback session, please let us know. We would love to take learning from any recent schemes to improve our future solutions.
If there are any current projects or queries we can help with, do not hesitate to get in touch.
A few weeks ago we jumped at the opportunity to take a few snaps of Nationwide Building Society’s Oakfield development in Swindon as the sun made a rare appearance. We spent some time appreciating the details which really make this scheme sing. The variety of brick detail, brick bonds, and brick specification gives each terrace a unique character whilst at the same time creating a strong identity for the 239 home development as a whole.
Part of our role as delivery stage architects is to facilitate efficient construction. We painstakingly set out each brick configuration to limit the number of cut bricks required and therefore minimise waste. Which makes seeing the fantastic results all the sweeter!
Sarah Harris and Rick Johnstone, of the Swim School Ltd, came to gcp with a challenge: to design and deliver their ‘Swimarium’ in Westbury, Wiltshire. Being a retrofit of a former warehouse made the brief a little unusual. The pool itself had already been procured, leaving the challenge of accommodating the ancillary facilities and plant in the remaining space.
The pool occupies approximately a 100m2 footprint, within a building that has a 230m2 gross internal area. Necessary accommodation also included: An entrance hallway, an accessible wc, 2 changing rooms, a viewing gallery, lockers, a plant room, a chemical store, raised teaching walkways and compliant escape routes; making the spatial tolerances are extremely fine.
gcp undertook all the design work from the initial feasibility study through to concept, planning and technical design stage. The warehouse underwent an extensive thermal and structural upgrade, with half the roof accommodating solar pv panels. gcp also supported the construction team throughout, with the design calling for some unique detailing around the piled pool slab, teaching walkways and external walls. All credit goes to the contractor, Hill Project Management, who ran the build stage diligently and professionally, under significant time constraints.
Recently we were also pleased to be invited along to the grand opening. With a long waiting list and thousands of satisfied customers, we hope that this will be one of many more Swimariums to come!
Planning granted by Forest of Dean District Council for a development of 20 affordable homes in Staunton!
gcp is working with Two Rivers Housing to redevelop a site currently used for sheltered housing. The existing 1960s buildings provided poor quality accommodation and did not meet the standard of homes that Two Rivers aim to provide to their tenants. Following consultation with remaining residents, it was decided to redevelop the land so that better quality homes can be created. The design proposal by gcp, which was granted planning consent last month, will provide a mix of accommodation including bungalows, flats and houses. Whilst continuing to provide homes for older tenants, the scheme will create a more mixed community that reflects the nature of surrounding homes and local housing need. The new homes will feature renewable technologies including heat pumps and solar panels to reduce carbon emissions and provide low energy costs for tenants.
Encouraging younger people to develop their potential is something that we are very keen to support here at gcp. This year we were fortunate enough to support a Year 10 work experience student from a local Secondary School. The student didn’t know exactly the career path that they would pursue so we developed a design task that could be as creative or detailed as the student wanted, the goal is to enjoy the process!
We started by exploring a very initial brief and developing the client in more detail – we found ourselves with surfers who wanted a space closer to their favourite bay in St Ives, where they could retreat after a day on the waves. Given the dimensions of a simple plot we investigated how these surfers might use the space, what kind of areas they needed and what key factors were important to their enjoyment of the space – full height glazing to appreciate the views of the sea was essential! A mood board was created for how the internal and external spaces might look and what materials could be used.
We discussed the importance of space both horizontally and vertically and were very impressed when the student expressed the importance of a dormered roof to take advantage of space at an upper floor. The student did a lot of hand sketching and quickly took to using scaled dimensions. Whilst it was clear that the student was having fun sketching it was obvious that as soon as we showed them a 3D software tool that this was much more exciting! Perhaps because of experience with computer gaming the student very quickly took to modelling the scheme that had been developed in their sketches. They very eagerly took to applying materials, and manipulating the model by pushing and pulling elements to create recessed and projections – and I think you will agree that the design ended up looking great!
We also visited our Henacre development, which is being built by Curo. Due to the project timeline this scheme demonstrates various stages of the build progress, from exposed slab and masonry skins, full height structures with trusses and some final stages of decoration – right the way through to plots that have already been handed over to people living in and enjoying the spaces. We think this helped to realised the use of space between how it looks on paper, the decisions made and the way that the student already understand a liveable space.
Currently there are several years of younger people that have had their journeys displaced by the recent pandemic – it is important to help develop these young minds and help support them on their journey to whatever career path they decide to take, a design task can lead to understanding in many different careers with the construction industry. We look forward to supporting more students next year.
At gcp Chartered Architects, we make a special effort to spend together outside of the usual 9-5 office hours. As part of our June social get-together, Philip Baker took us on a Medieval Tour through Bristol's Old City where we learnt all about the area's fascinating history and how our city came to be.
It was only fitting for the tour to begin at the Bristol Bridge. Bristol, previously known as 'Brycgstow', meaning the "meeting place at the bridge" in the old Saxon language.
St Peters Church
Only a few minutes away, Phil led us to our first stop, St Peter's Church. Before the war, the area was Bristol's main shopping centre, but sadly the area was heavily bombed and mostly destroyed. Fortunately, the shell of the ruined church was retained as a memorial.
Bristol Castle & Sally Port Doorway
Standing at the Round Pool, we looked over Castle Park where the Motte and Bailey Castle once used to stand. Constructed in 1088 on the narrow piece of land between the Frome and Avon River, it was built to control access to the town and announce the new ruler of the country, William the Conqueror.
Making our way through the Park and down to Sally Port, we gazed through the steel gates that lead to a hidden series of steps. These were cut into the rock to allow a garrison of troops to exit the Castle during a siege and allow them to attack the enemy from the rear.
St James Priory
Weaving through the city centre along roads that follow the River Frome down below, we made our way to St James Priory Church. Dating back to the 12th century, this is the oldest Church in Bristol that is still in daily use. Here we were treated to a private tour by one of the very knowledgeable staff members. Through the years, the building has transformed to adapt to the changing city around it, as you can see in the sketch below.
A tiny hidden Church, many more stories, and Part 2 to follow…
The final stop on our tour was the hidden historical gem built on and into the remains of the old Town Wall, St John the Baptist Church, better known as St John on the Wall. Using a large, ornate key to pry open the great green entrance door, Phil lead us within. Here we gazed upon the beautiful stained glass windows, the magnificent church organ, and even had the opportunity to climb the tiny staircase up the clock tower.
We have only been able to retell but a few of the many wonderful stories Phil shared with us about the Medieval Town in the heart of Bristol. Watch this space for Part 2 of the tour which will take place later this month.
gcp Chartered Architects are delighted to be selected as winners of this exciting competition for Goram Homes.
Read MoreAt gcp we know that the growing terminology around low carbon housing is confusing and practical implications on development can seem unclear. As early advocates for Passivhaus and low carbon design, we want to help our clients explore how high quality and sustainable housing can be achieved.
We offer seminars on Whole Life Carbon, Passivhaus, Net-Zero and Retrofit. Please let us know if you would like us to drop by and talk with your team!
t 0117 967 6286
e mail@gcparch.co.uk
After a two-year wait, Walwyn Gardens has been awarded full planning permission and due to start construction this year. The retrofit scheme includes demolishing and replacing existing leaking courtyard access walkways with contemporary, thermally improved communal access routes. All windows and doors will be replaced as well as a new colour palette introduced to the reclad corridor elements.
gcp are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the Novers Hill Design Competition and will move forward to Stage 2 of the process. Below we share some of our process and considerations when appoaching a new scheme.
Background
Goram Homes, in partnership with the Bristol Housing Festival, launched a design competition on 2nd March 2023 for a new housing development in Knowle West.
Situated just off Novers Hill, the brownfield site bounds the ecologically significant Western Slopes, with fantastic views over Southwest Bristol.
Having previously worked with Goram Homes to report on and reduce their whole life carbon emissions, we jumped at the chance to produce a sensitive, low carbon exemplar design for the Knowle West community.
Our Process
Context is always important, but especially on such an ecologically significant site. Our process started by analysing the site from an ecological, social, geographical and historical point of view.
This allowed us to identify the areas which could be developed whilst limiting any negative impacts on existing habitats. The brownfield elements of this site offered an obvious development opportunity due to the level topography and lack of ecology.
Taking the developable area, we could carve out service routes and ancillary spaces, leaving the most suitable areas for the proposed dwellings.
Working with a concept massing allows many ideas to be tested at a site-wide level to investigate their suitability. We took this opportunity to adapt the form to better make use of the site’s natural resources such as sunlight and views.
Retaining a connection between Knowle West and the Western Slopes was a key part of integrating this development into the existing community. To encourage this, we chose to slice through the massing to form a physical link between the wonderful green spaces and the wider community.
Creative stacking of gardens allowed us to achieve the required housing densities without damaging any further green space. This stacking also made the most of natural daylighting and views.
Our Team
We selected a competition team with a wide ranging but complimentary skillset to efficiently deliver this competition entry.
Part 2 Architectural Assistant: Matt Taylor
The core team of Matt B, Matt T and Owen developed our design under the excellent stewardship of Sarah. Regular concept discussions between the core team allowed for speedy testing and evolution of ideas. Concepts were then presented to the wider office during several design reviews in our pin-up space, which helped to hone the proposal and focus the mind.
Holistic Design
We pride ourselves on being able to take projects from the first sketch all the way through to delivery. Part of this is thinking ahead and making sure we consider the detail within the big picture. Whilst this was a Stage 1 design, we wanted to ensure that buildability, sustainability and affordability were all considered to ensure smoother development as the design progresses. It is much easier to design in efficiency at an early stage than try to adjust a poor design further down the line.
In developing our submission, we considered:
Whole life carbon emissions by improving thermal performance, choosing low carbon materials and maximizing solar gains
Materials to allow for ease of construction, minimal ecological disruption and easy airtightness
Going beyond biodiversity net gain by retaining as many habitats as possible, enhancing existing grasslands and planting trees/vegetation to offset carbon emissions
Net Zero emissions in operation through an efficient form, fabric first design and large solar PV arrays
Affordability by eliminating unnecessary junctions/details, minimizing energy/running costs and reducing the overall building mass.
The Submission
Detailed site analysis and holistic design allowed us to generate an accurate impression of how the development could look.
gcp have recently submitted for planning consent a scheme to extend and reimagine the McBraida factory building at Bridgeyate near Bristol. McBraida plc have operated at this plant supplying precision machined parts to a domestic and an increasingly important international aviation market.
Over the last 30 years, as the business expanded, the original brick factory unit has been expanded in piecemeal fashion without any fundamental re-planning of the production space, or strategic view to the future. Consequently, the site is now operating at significantly below optimum efficiency due to the resulting cramped conditions. Likewise, the industry shift into computer aided design and manufacture requires an expansion in office area to accommodate these increasingly desk based manufacturing processes.
Driven by overseas sales success and the lack of space at the Bridgeyate plant, in 2013 the business opened a second production base in Poland. This is a purpose-built modern factory unit with an efficient layout and high levels of staff satisfaction with the workspace environment. It is equipped with all facilities expected of a modern engineering production plant including offices, laboratories, testing facilities, meeting rooms and a client presentation suite. There is a stark contrast between the highly efficient McBraida Polska plant and the somewhat dated, inefficient, sub-optimal accommodation at Bridgeyate.
The proposed extensions will envelope most of the existing factory and will give increased production area, storage, new offices and staff facilities to a high modern standard. The public image of the McBraida works will be transformed from its current anonymous appearance. The intended design aesthetic is ‘modern industrial’; appropriate for the company’s business although to a higher specification than a standard industrial unit. The public-facing façade of the building will express the forward-looking aspirations fitting for this high technology company.
gcp has recently secured planning approval to convert a Victorian warehouse on a landlocked site into 5 new family homes.
In a bid to not only consider the building’s history, but embodied carbon as well, the original red brick building has been retained. The 2 later concrete extensions which were in a state of disrepair will be demolished, with one of them being rebuilt in a similar sized footprint and the other becoming garden space for the houses.
The red brick building boasts tall ceilings, timber sash windows and an open plan design. The scheme will have PV, water butts and air source heat pumps along with planting boxes to help drainage and encourage new ecology on what was previously a concrete wasteland.
The new extension is built with the same red brick as the existing on ground floor to tie the buildings together but has a striking black metal cladding on first floor to pay tribute to the industrial nature of the original site and much of its surrounding areas. To ensure the scheme does not impact surrounding homes, first floor rooms are in the roof, but with high eaves to ensure high quality and useability of the space is achieved.
We worked closely with the Bristol Planning Department to ensure a positive outcome was achieved – a design sensitive to its surrounding neighbours and energy-conscious in both embodied and fuel, providing high quality living for future home owners, and maintaining its history from Olliff’s Antiques Warehouse. Upon redevelopment, Olliff’s Architectural Antiques will relocate to an alternative location elsewhere in the city.
This scheme follows on from the highly successful Brooks Dye Works project we delivered for Acorn.
Since the release of the RICS professional statement on whole life carbon assessments in 2017 there has been a sea of activity across the construction sector to define best practice for low carbon buildings through publications such as the RIBA Climate Challenge 2030 or the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide. Climate targets have led to legislative change through planning policy in some areas including Greater London, B&NES and Cornwall, however despite the plethora of targets and policies, there has been very little by way of certification for assessors.
Certification is important as it sets a common standard for the quality of assessments which should lead to better data capture and analysis across the sector and improve the validity of future targets.
gcp have undertaken whole life carbon assessments since 2020. Initially working from first principals and undertaking our own calculations, but quickly progressing to the OneClick LCA software which contains a much broader database of materials. In April 2023 we became certified as Construction Life Cycle Assessment Specialists by OneClick LCA which allows us to generate whole life carbon calculations with the confidence that we are providing the best and most valuable service to our clients.
If you would like to find out more about the low carbon design and assessment services we offer, please contact matt.bonney@gcparch.co.uk.
BaNES have kicked off 2023 with a “groundbreaking” new policy which sets a precedent for low carbon planning policy across the country.
Housing in BaNES will now need to achieve net-zero energy in use; meaning all operational energy must be off-set using on site renewables, such as solar PV panels. In exceptional circumstances where this is not possible, BaNES will be operating a carbon credit scheme to offset excess energy by funding sustainable schemes throughout the region, such as installing solar PV on social housing.
Alongside this progressive operational policy, BaNES have also introduced an embodied carbon target of 900kgCO2/m2 for large developments.
Together these two policy changes should mean the whole life carbon of residential developments in BaNES will dramatically reduce in the coming years. However, to see the full picture, we need to compare these policies against other progressive industry guidance.
RIBA Climate Challenge 2030 for example sets the following targets for domestic developments:
This guidance suggests we should already be designing for <800 kgCO2/m2 with a 2030 target of <625 kgCO2/m2 embodied carbon, including services which are omitted from the BaNES requirements.
This may seem overly ambitious, but environmentally conscious housing developers are already surpassing these targets with standard forms of construction. We have recently undertaken an embodied carbon assessment for Goram Homes, Bristol City Council’s housing company, in partnership with Vistry Group. Houses at the One Lockleaze development in North Bristol were easily achieving <400 kgCO2/m2 with timber framed construction and <800 kgCO2/m2 with traditional construction for the apartments.
Publishing a target of 900 kgCO2/m2 embodied carbon (not including services) and net-zero operational carbon may inadvertently have a negative effect by encouraging developers to fill rooftops with solar PV to counteract poor thermal performance, rather than investing in fabric first design and integrating low carbon products to achieve buildings with a much lower whole life carbon.
Undoubtably, this is a massive step in the right direction for planning policy in England. Embodied carbon in particular has been screaming out for regulation, and by introducing the industry to concepts such as net-zero and whole life carbon we should see the acceleration of low carbon development we desperately need.
The gauntlet has now been thrown down to all other Local Authorities. I certainly hope Bristol and South Glos will look to match or surpass this policy when their new Local Plans go live in 2024.
gcp offer a whole range of sustainability assessments through gcp Consulting, including whole life carbon assessments. If you need to demonstrate compliance with sustainability targets or would be interested in understanding how well your current developments perform, please get in touch.
We are recruiting here at gcp Chartered Architects. If you are ready for a new challenge, we have opportunities for design professionals to join our team in Bristol. You will need to be organised, proactive and keen to make a difference. The roles will be busy and varied and will focus on two main areas: estate regeneration comprising decarbonisation and retrofitting of medium to large scale projects (£5m to £20m) and sports / leisure projects focusing on indoor cricket facilities, with ambition to grow within that sector. Do you know anyone who might be interested?
Contact mail@gcparch.co.uk
2022 has seen the “new normal” become the normal-normal, with hybrid working and remote meetings just a part of everyday life now. With bubble-working and office closures a thing of the past, the word of the year at gcp has been collaboration. We have really enjoyed being back in the office together, sharing stories and cakes at our Monday huddles and using our new whiteboard space for design workshops.
We started the year by offsetting carbon emissions: a frosty January day was spent planting trees with Avon Needs Trees. gcp are committed to tackling climate change both through our designs and our actions. We hope to build off this initial planting session by further developing our carbon tracking, reduction, reporting, and offsetting strategies to better understand how we can make a difference.
In February we celebrated national apprenticeship week, with architectural apprentice Owen Faunt. We are pleased to be supporting Owen through his Architectural Apprenticeship at South Bank University, London. We love discussing his projects and seeing his finished work and are incredibly proud of how far he’s come since his change of careers 3 years ago.
Part of his experience this year was the chance to work on The Ranch, Southmead, with DIY SOS. gcp helped with the overarching vision and Owen got the chance to put his amazing sketching skills to work.
Team challenges form the cornerstone of office morale here at gcp, and in March we split into team-bikes and team-books to see who could go the furthest – readers or cyclists. Team reading easily beat the cyclists, though with their many pub lunch cycles clocked up, who was the real winning team?!
In July, some of the staff, their partners and families took a relaxing weekend trip to Devon and in September we celebrated the company’s 30th birthday with our favorite memories and a huge cake.
2022 has seen a boom in recent sports project experience. gcp were proud to help bring a top class sporting facility to West London, with the completion of a fantastic cricket centre developed in conjunction with the Wilf Slack Trust, Middlesex Cricket and Willam Perkins School. We have some more exciting sports projects on the program for 2023!
Our long-running relationship with Curo continued this year, with Century Park a 128 unit scheme progressing well on site. This scheme has received great press and is a finalist in Bristol Property Awards, for Residential Development.
Alongside marking a continued relationship with Curo, we were pleased to be working with EG Carters, a partnership which has been ongoing for over 18 years. We have worked closely with the EG Carter team over the years to find practical development solutions for often tricky sites across the South West.
Our first project together (back in 2004!) was a small infill housing project in a dense urban neighbourhood in Bristol. Current projects include Rural Exception sites in Somerset and Wiltshire where we have worked closely with the E G Carter team, jointly negotiating our way through complex planning, land and environmental issues, to deliver needed affordable homes that are welcomed by the local community.
We celebrated with Acorn Property Group and Halsall the completion of Brooks Dye Works, a 113-home regeneration project in St Werburghs, Bristol.
Our initial contact with Acorn began when we supported Halsall Construction on the Otters Holt development in Ottery St Mary, a complex brownfield development in a conservation area. Acorn subsequently approached us to resolve planning conditions and provide technical design for their major project at the old Brooks Laundry in Bristol. Alongside architectural design we also provided energy assessments to meet Acorn's performance targets through our in-house energy consultancy.
Alongside our continued housing experience and exciting sports projects, we have been working on Retrofit in the Forest of Dean. At the CIH conference in September, Tom Mellor presented alongside Curtins, Two Rivers and Rider Levett Bucknall as part of the “Bristol Retrofit Collective” speaking to Demystify PAS2035. We will be running some further seminars on this subject in the New Year, so please get in touch if you’d like to get added to the list.
All in all, it’s been a busy year for gcp and we rounded it off with a lovely Christmas meal in Bristol last week. After a busy few months, it was lovely to gather around the table, enjoy good food and even better company and raise a glass to the success of our small team over the year.
We can’t wait to see what is in store for us and for you, in 2023.
Season’s greetings to all and wishing you a very happy New Year.
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Kensington Memorial Park Waterpark
There’s a really exciting employee anniversary this month – Senior Architect Michael Hanson celebrates 23 years at gcp. As part of the celebrations, we wanted to ask him a few questions about his time here.
As one of our longest serving team members, he has a wealth of experience in leisure, community, education, regeneration and social housing projects for a range of clients including local authorities, housing associations and commercial developers.
Michael has worked on a wide range of projects as lead architect, and also in a consultancy role as assessor and expert energy advisor.
For over 15 years, Michael has had particular interest in the issues of conservation and sustainable environmental design, he has undertaken research and energy modelling to help clients optimise design and construction specifications for low energy housing, including researching renewable technology impacts and cost-benefits for clients and occupants.
Michael is an accredited SAP & EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) assessor.
As part of his interest in developing a deeper understanding of building physics and energy in buildings, in 2011 Michael completed an MSc in Environmental Design of Buildings at Cardiff University, achieving a distinction. This included research into the impacts of domestic retrofit measures, which was published in his dissertation; “The Risk and Reward of Implementing Zero Carbon Retrofit to UK Dwellings: Studies of Implemented Measures and Analysis of Outcomes.”
As a project lead, Michael has particular experience of running the construction stage of projects, involving the discharge of planning conditions, Building Regulation compliance and detailed design co-ordination. In recent years Michael has developed particular experience in works to existing buildings. This has included complex conversion and refurbishment of commercial buildings and residential low and high-rise buildings.
As part of this experience Michael has been responsible for consultation with existing occupiers and management of the complexities of working in occupied buildings and the close coordination this requires. His most recent projects continue this, but focus on whole building low energy retrofit and decarbonisation initiatives, delivering stepchanges in resident experience and energy demands.
Michael has completed training to deliver Principal Designer services to meet the requirements of CDM 2015 Health & Safety Regulations.
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Well Michael, I think your experience speaks for itself. Let’s give our followers the chance to get to know you a bit better with a few quick-fire questions.
We’ll start with the easy one: what inspired you to pursue architecture?
Several aspects; my father was a carpenter, and he had a background of a long running multi-generational family business, in the model of general builder and funeral directors. Construction and buildings were a fact. When I was a child we’d investigate local sites if we came across one on a walk (before current levels of health & safety secured sites!) and I remember trying to piece together the part-finished buildings in my head. Additionally my secondary school art teacher was a good encouragement.
Thanks for sharing that. If you weren’t an architect, what would you be?
Hmmm. Perhaps I would have pursued art – I did art to A-level, enjoyed painting in oils, mainly landscapes at that point. But essentially I gain joy in creating things – so I guess I would have ended up in some sort of creative endeavour.
You’ve been here for such a long time, do you think you could narrow it down to your favourite project to work on at gcp?
There have been many really, I enjoy each one as they come along – and can get very focused in the detail. But Hengrove Leisure park was an early one, as well as work on the major parks in London for RBKC, particularly at Kensington Memorial Park, and then various community centre and old school site works. Always good to see the benefit for the client & users. There are others that I've enjoyed at concept stage which were never realised in the end – several schemes which would have had dramatic interventions for residents such as proposals for refurbishment of highrise towers in Exeter and Swindon, all unfortunately suffered the fate of local authority financial difficulties not pursuing project delivery.
And what’s been your best moment at gcp in the last year?
I would say some of our staff social events. Gathering again with colleagues and their families down in Devon at the start of this summer was a particular highlight.
Anything Else?
Staggered by way time flies. Time with gcp has been a blend of various different experiences – always with very good people.
Couldn’t agree more and with this anniversary marks the end of another calendar year. Where did 2022 go? Just a few final questions to finish up.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
There never seems to be much of it, but if it is just my time, then cycling and gardening bring satisfaction peace and joy.
When it is longer time with my family we like to get out and visit historic places, to explore or visit new places and do activities – we don’t do static holidays – the act of journeying is part of the experience.
What’s your proudest personal achievement?
My family - My daughters.
Norfolk Coast, 2020
And to wrap up – my favourite questions to ask! - could tell us something we might not already know about you?
Hmm. Should that be I’m a quarter Italian?
È molto gentile da parte tua!
Narrowboat Steering, 2019
Thanks so much for your time today Michael. It really is a pleasure to celebrate our staff anniversaries and achievements and today was a particularly monumental one.
We have an exciting month of Christmas fun coming up in December – keep an eye on our blog to see what we doing throughout the month to bring some festive joy to the office.
