News Reports from October 2016 to January 2017 - Master Ian Mason

16th February - Sad News in that we report the passing of our Company Illustrator and Liveryman Henry Stephenson MCSD FSAI FRSA FFB Joint Hon Fellow London SBU Oct 1928 - Feb 2017

Seen here with The Master of the time Doug Barratt FCIOB FRSA in 2012

Here Henry is with The Master of the time John Trussler PPCIOB FRICS HonAIC FRSA in 2008

Link here to a special page on Henry

25th January - Obituary - Martin Watson MSt (Cantab) BA (Hons) Dip ArchRIBA 1962 – 2017

Martin Watson 1962-2017

The Company were shocked and saddened to learn of the recent death of Freeman Martin Watson. He was a director of the Liverpool-based architectural practice Brock Carmichael. HERE. He brought the ability of architecture to contribute to a sense of community and social well-being. He also represented Liverpudlian wit and humor at its best.

After secondary school, Martin completed an Ordinary National Diploma in Construction before studying Architecture at Manchester Metropolitan University. He achieved a BA (Hons) and Diploma in Architecture, a 1st Class honours in Architecture and was highly commended for Urban Design.

He became a Chartered Architect in 1991, furthering his belief that construction is a collaborative process. He followed this by reading Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment, where he graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.

In his early career Martin was involved in the development of a new village master plan and community primary school of Arkwright Town. This early learning was important to him and provided the inspiration to write his acclaimed essay, which received an honorary citation at the 2013 Chinese Urban Housing conference, the first time this honour had ever been received by a western architect. The presentation was equally well received at the 2014 International Union of Architects World Congress in South Africa.

In 2014, Martin was appointed as Associate Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Housing Innovation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and led a module on Housing Design and Development. He recently led the multidisciplinary team at Brock Carmichael Architects that won the 2016 RIBA International Design Competition to establish a self-sufficient and sustainable future for the people of Tristan da Cunha, the most remote inhabited island in the world.

 

Martin had a distinguished architectural career for more than 25 years, mostly with Brock Carmichael where he was a full equity partner and director of operations with lead responsibilities for innovation in offsite manufacturing and education. His notable projects included:

  • One Park West: Pelli Clarke Pelli’s £70m mixed-use development for Grosvenor Estates, part of the £1bn Liverpool One Project.
  • Shrewsbury School: a five-year, £10m programme to refurbish and reconfigure 11 Grade II boarding houses and the design of Emma Darwin House a new build boarding house for girls.
  • Ruthin School: a six-year, £12m master plan for new boarding houses, a 500-seat dining hall, sixth form centre, performing arts facility and library.
  • Shilin Stone Forest Resort master plan, China for Sunning Tourist Investment Corporation
  • Ocean One Marina, Tianjin, China for Rainbow Land Development.

He helped develop Brock Carmichael’s business in China and was a director of the Octagon Partnership, a unique sustainable architecture collaboration between the firm and the Oval Partnership architectural practice. He was a committee member of the Liverpool Architectural Society and a Freeman of the City of London through his membership of the Worshipful Company of Constructors.

He remained an active and committed supporter of Habitat for Humanity on Poverty alleviation projects in the UK and China.

20th January Face2Face event at City Livery Club - Bob Heathfield, Highly Commended Root and Branch Award 2016

 

City Livery Club “Root & Branch Award” for 2016 as an individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to the Livery. HERE ON CITY LIVERY CLUB WEBSITE opens in new page.

The standard of entries in 2016 from so many Livery companies led the judging panel also to award a Highly Commended prize to Bob Heathfield of the Worshipful Company of Constructors. Showing a very different element of Livery commitment, Bob runs a scheme for young professionals in the industry to carry out research and enhance their knowledge and that of the industry as well as mentoring these young people in their careers.

Bob has been leading the scholarship team for 10 years and during that time over 50 young professionals have gone through an 18 month research programme into subjects diverse across the industry.

We are delighted for Bob that The City Livery Club has recognised the true extent of his commitment and dedication to those starting out in the construction industry and The Master sends his wholehearted congratulations to Bob on behalf of the whole company.

18th January - Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship Presentations.

Sir Ian Dixon was our Junior Warden, CIOB’s President from 1989 to 1990 and head of Willmott Dixon. He was an enthusiastic supporter of innovation and education within the industry. The scholarship was established in 1997. It is funded and supported by Sir Ian Dixon Legacy, The Chartered Institute of Building and The Worshipful Company of Constructors.
 
The Sir Ian Dixon scholarship is designed to provide an opportunity for companies to develop the potential of their staff through a research programme.
 
Each successful scholar will be awarded £3,000 to carry out a research project that will benefit the scholar, their company and the industry. The scholars will continue to work full time during the scholarship year. Their company agrees to provide the scholar with a company mentor and also host a final presentation event. The subject of the research could relate to any area of construction management including forms of contract, processes on site, emerging trends or management practices.
 
See HERE for more details within this website.
 
2015/16 Scholarship presentation:-
 

See here from left: Bob Heathfield PPCIOB, Ian Mason FCIOB Master of The Worshipful Company of Constructors, Andrew Thompson from Lakehouse, Lady Valerie Dixon, Liz Waters from SRM, Chris Blythe OBE Chief Executive CIOB at the presentation evening.

30th December - Master’s New Year Message

Fellow Constructors,

As we move on into 2017 with all the changes and upheaval  that it will bring to the City of London   I think that, we should embrace  the  challenges that this will bring  the Company with confidence and continue to maintain  the high regard that we as ‘Constructors” are held within the City.  We are developing as a Company with, as I stated at my Installation dinner the emphasis during the year on Communication, Membership and Apprenticeships. The membership continues to grow with some interesting developments in planning, for new members with a revamped “Presentation pack”, provision of “Buddies” at events and a concerted effort from the Court to encourage Freeman to obtain the Freedom of the City of London and then move to Livery within the Company.

Communication is being addressed with the creation of a new website with its capability to book and pay on line for functions and to be a current active location for all members to use. 

Apprenticeships and mentoring continue to grow with contacts being developed across the spectrum of education from schools to colleges, university and training establishments. Whilst maintaining our flagship events, there has been an increase in the number of smaller and more informal events, which have been very well supported with the Constructors Christmas Lunch Club being attended by over 65 members and guests. 

We have much to look forward to in 2017 including the Gala charity dinner at the Cutty Sark at Greenwich and the Masters Weekend in Guernsey.  I hope that you will be able to attend at least one event next year and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

I wish you a happy and healthy New Year

12th November - The Lord Mayor`s Show

The world-famous Lord Mayor’s Procession set off from Mansion House at 11:05am. It paused at the Royal Courts while the Lord Mayor swears allegiance and then returned by the Victoria Embankment at 1pm. The Lord Mayor returns to Mansion House just after 2pm.

Our Master Ian Mason and Senior Warden Anthony Ward joined in the procession as part of The Modern Companies float.

Lunch was taken in The Little Ship Club

6th October 2016 - Annual Church Service & Installation of The Master and Wardens in The Church of St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall followed by The Installation Dinner held at Grocers` Hall.

During The Annual Church service conducted by Rev`d Canon David Parrott, the Installation of our New Master, Ian Mason, for the Livery year 2016/17, was undertaken in the presence of The Livery, Members and Guests. There followed the Installation, by The Master, of the four Wardens of The Company.

After The Service and Installation the Master and Company held their Installation Dinner in Grocers` Hall.

Honorary Chaplain Reverend Canon David Parott with Uor Beadle Ted Prior before Dinner

The Installation Dinner was taken in the wonderful Gorcers` Hall in the heart of The City of London.

The Master, Ian Mason FCIOB led the VIP Party and the hospitality to The Company Guests:-

Dr Christine Rigden, Past Master Constructor and Late Sheriff of The City of London

David Szymanski, Master Tyler & Bricklayer

Nicholas Somers, Master Turner

Wendy Hyde, Master World Trader

Erica Stary, Master Plumber

Dr Sara Cookbill, Master Welsh Livery

Col Robin Melvin. Master Elect Welsh Livery

Sally Walker, Master York Guild of Building

Philip Morrish, Master Environmental Cleaner

John Rowell, Master Lightmonger

The VIP Party processed into dinner lead by The Master.

 

Grocers` Hall

Music by Edward Dye - Guildhall School of Music.

The Guests were welcomed in traditional style by the newly installed Junior Warden Arthur Seymour FCIOB

The toast to The Company "May it flourish root & branch forever" was proposed by The Late Sheriff Dr Christine Rigden.

The Master, Ian Mason, responded with a most amusing and entertaining speech who concluded with a toast to "The Guests"