Harpenden Society Awards for developments completed in 2011

The Harpenden Society presented the annual Harpenden Society Award to the new development in Thompson's Close in Harpenden comprising Breathing Space fitness club and Blueberry Café. Chris Marsden presented the award on Wednesday 13th July 2011 to Keith Lunn the owner of the businesses; Chris explained that the awards are presented for developments which enhance the environment.

Keith Lunn announced, “Everyone at Breathing Space is delighted to receive this award from the Harpenden Society. The development was sympathetically designed to enhance the existing building and has transformed the appearance of Thompsons Close from the High Street. We have worked hard to create a high quality business in an attractive environment and it is very gratifying to see our efforts rewarded in this way. Thank you to everyone in the Harpenden Society for their support.”

Clare Butterworth spoke on behalf of Clague, the Harpenden architects responsible for the design. “The challenges were more to do with the Flemish bond brickwork to respect the conservation area location.  We had to work closely with the clients to minimise the impact of the build on their existing business.  The building gives a welcoming frontage to those approaching from the High Street.
Above, Chris Marsden (left) presenting the award to Keith Lunn of Breathing Space
A number of society members attended the presentation which was held adjacent to the wall where the commemorative plaque will be affixed. Chris said that the development has transformed what was previously a gloomy and scruffy area.

Rosemary Horne, Chairman of the Harpenden Society Awards Committee, explained that the committee was impressed by the great care which had been taken in the design of the new building. “The new building blends with the existing one so that it looks like one piece. It is an attractive building in its own right, but additionally we were impressed by the enormous contribution the project has made to Thompson's Close which is now an attractive, open, bright area which enormously enhances the centre of Harpenden.”
Chris Marsden, The Harpenden Society Chairman, presented a Certificate of Merit to Deanna Rogerson, M&Co Area  Manager, to recognise the contribution that M&Co has made to the town by restoring the clock at the front of its premises to full working order.

The presentation was made in the presence of Michael Weaver, Town Mayor for 2011-2012, who thanked M&Co and then pointed out that the clock had originally been installed by himself when the building was the C&A  hardware shop which he managed for a while. He said, “In 1989 C&A moved from the previous site in Harpenden, now W H Smith and Sainsbury's, to Kingston House - now the M&Co shop. There had often been talk of a Town Clock and as owner of the C&A business I decided to install a three way facing clock. In 1985 C&A ceased trading and later the clock stopped working. M&Co is to be congratulated for repairing the clock and restoring it to its former glory.”
The M&Co clock
Chris Marsden (left) presents Certificate to Deanna Rogerson, Area Manager for M&Co
Bricrest Homes Ltd own some of the shop premises in Southdown including the Grove House charity shop. For many years the clock on the external gable end wall has not been working so Mike Taaffe Managing Director of Bricrest Homes decided to purchase a new one. After considerable research a new clock was purchased and installed by Bricrest. Chris Marsden, The Harpenden Society Chairman, presented a Certificate of Merit to Mike Taaffe of Bricrest Homes and Chris commended Mike for his generosity and contribution to the community of Southdown.
Above - Chris Marsden (centre) presents Certificate of Merit to Mike Taaffe of Bricrest plus Harpenden Society members.
The Bricrest clock in Southdown.
Southdown residents have been tidying up and improving the communal open space, Greenway Spinney, which is adjacent to Meadway, off Grove Road. The residents, known as ‘Friends of Greenway Spinney', are grateful to resident Patrick Fisher who created a wattle fence the open space; not only did he grow the materials for the new fence he constructed it too. The Harpenden Society has sent a Letter of Commendation to Patrick in recognition of his work on behalf of the community.