Page 29 - The Constructor A5V24 V1

The Company

Clinton Leeks has recently been clothed as a Liveryman and writes “I
was deep in the process of helping Crossrail to get across the
construction start line when Past Master David Hattersley asked me in
late 2009 if I had thought of joining the Worshipful Company of
Constructors as a Freeman. I did my research and decided to seek
membership, for it was clear to me from the start that the company
was something different, and rather special.
Even though a new company, founded in 1976, it was and is a part of the City traditions of livery
companies going back centuries, traditions and history I had already encountered in working with the
City authorities on managing the impacts of Crossrail’s planned route. The company had extra
attractions as a new company: not being tied to its own hall, it met in a range of exciting and
spectacular venues around the year. Its membership reflected the full range of construction skills
and interests, making it different from the various learned and professional bodies I had come
across, and the breadth and variety of its membership especially attracted me. Importantly, it gave
unstinting support to building construction expertise among the young (and not so young), to those
engaged on construction projects in the Armed Services, and to a range of City and construction
charities.
Above all, it was and is fun. Its events have a buzz about them that is always inevitable when such a
diverse bunch of people come together first in a common purpose, but also to enjoy themselves. So
five years after joining it felt time to progress within the company, and to seek to be admitted to the
Livery, which I duly was in a moving ceremony on 7 May. I have never for a moment regretted my
decision back in 2010 to ask to join, and now as a liveryman I wait to see what new adventures lie
ahead.”

Greg Sharp joined the Company as a Freeman in February 2015. He writes:
“I established Park Refurbishment in 2004 from a larger construction company
and have grown it from a small company taking on small works to its current
state where it retains jobs with a value in excess of two million pounds. These
range from internal and external refurbishments, redecoration works,
remodelling, and renovations of both office space and private rental
accommodation projects.

My work has taken me all over London and involved me in many different communities, including
projects in The City of London. It was my involvement in construction regeneration schemes such as
the one at Hackney, coupled with wanting to return something back into the community, which led
me to becoming a Freeman of the Company.
I have always felt it is important to be an active participate in the communities I work and live in. For
this reason and others I wished to be become a Freeman of the City and to be an active participant in
the City, where many of my clients, contacts and jobs are.
I look forward to being able to meet many of the Freeman and interacting with a group of people
who have such a wealth of experience and knowledge, and to learning and sharing with one
another.”

Autumn 2015 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 29