PPRROODDUUCCEEDD OONN BBEEHHAALLFF OOFF LLAAIINNGG’’SS CCHHAARRIITTAABBLLEE TTRRUUSSTT SSPPRRIINNGG 22000066

Retired Employees’ News

The final days in IndiaOne reader tells how he photographed Ghandi’s funeral

Were you at Suez?The BBC wants to hear your stories from the Suez crisis

All the latest newsOld and new, Christmas luncheons reports and muchmore

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Delighted to be inundated with readers’ newsAS you will see, we have had toexpand the Reader’s News sectionof this issue, because there is somuch of it.You have sent in everything from

letters to photographs taken atGhandi’s funeral.Also, as the facing page article

reveals, it is nearly 50 years sincethe Suez Crisis and it seems thatLaing retirees may well have beenat the heart of that historic time.There is an article on page 10which explains how people fromVictoria Joinery were carrying outwork there. You may even get thechance to tell your story on nation-al television.On top of that and the regular

news items, there is exciting newsabout the expansion of theLaingpastandpresent website(Page 8) plus news from this year’sChristmas luncheons, includingsome great stories, one in particu-lar from Alan Vining of theMidlands club.This week’s humourous interlude

was told by Peter Rowe whoannounced that he is steppingdown as President of the SouthWest Retirees Club.It seems a keen, but aging, golfer

told his wife that he would not begoing for his usual round onemorning.“Why ever not?” asked his wife,

“You love golf.”

He replied: “It’s no use, I can stillhit the thing but my eyes are sobad that I never know where it’sgone.”“Well don’t let that stop you, why

not get old Barney next door tocome with you, his eyes are assharp as ever.”Liking the idea the man enlists

Barney and heads off to the golfclub. His first drive was a beautyand he asked Barney if he sawwhere it went.“Yes,” replies Barney with confi-

dence.“Excellent, where did it go?”Barney replied: “I can’t remem-

ber.”AAlleexx FFiinnkkeennrraatthh

MMaaiinn nneewwss ssttoorriieess 33All the latest company news

AAccccoommmmooddaattiioonn pprroojjeeccttss 44--55More success in health sector and parking

LLaaiinngg RRaaiill 66Including a possible new rail line

LLaaiinngg RRooaaddss 77Exciting news on M25 and waste projects

GGeenneerraall nneewwss 88Laing retiree website is upgraded

RReeaaddeerrss’’ NNeewwss 99--1111Three pages of your news and pictures

TTeeaamm SSppiirriitt aarrcchhiivvee 1122--1144News from 10, 25 and 50 years ago

CClluubb nneewwss aanndd oouuttiinnggss 1155--1199Christmas outings and forthcoming events

GGoollddeenn aanndd DDiiaammoonndd WWeeddddiinnggss 2200--2211Anniversary reports

FFrreeee vviissiittss aabboouutt eennttiittlleemmeennttss 2222 Your chance to get personal expert advice

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Printed by TJ Offset, Hertford

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Trading statement isout ahead of results

BBC looksfor Laing’sSuez people

Laing ends talks of sell-off

LAING issued a trading update inJanuary ahead of its preliminaryannouncement of results for the pastyear, scheduled for March 13, 2006.The statement said: “Expansion ofJohn Laing’s core roads, rail and PFIaccommodation businesses continuedthroughout 2005 and the Companycompleted a number of key strategicmoves, including a successful RightsIssue in July 2005 and the launch ofLaing Capital Management inDecember 2005. “We expect to report results in line

with market expectations. ”The company’s infrastructure portfo-

lio of 48 project investments includes38 operational projects, of which 27are fully operational.” The Group reached financial close on

eight new project concessions in2005. Six projects are currently atpreferred bidder stage involving atotal potential equity investment of£76 million. The statement also revealed that

since the May 2005 General Election,all major hospital projects had beensubject to some degree of delay dueto ‘change initiatives and policyreviews’. This had ‘impacted on theNational Health Service as a whole andpreviously promoted schemes have

been reviewed for affordability in thelight of the changing role of acute,intermediate and primary care provi-sion. Nevertheless, the Companyremains satisfied that all of the acutehospital projects that it has at pre-ferred bidder stage will proceed tofinancial close, and has receivedassurances from all the relevantTrusts that they remain committed toimplementing these schemes.’ The Board does not ‘anticipate any

significant variation at the year end tothe size of the gross pension deficitincorporated in the interim results for2005.’ In relation to litigation concerning

the Great Eastern Hotel, an out ofcourt settlement was reached inOctober. Whilst a couple of ‘insurancecoverage issues’ remain to beresolved the Board said: “ We are sat-isfied that the remaining provisionsfor retained construction liabilities areadequate. “

THE British BroadcastingCorporation (BBC) wants tohear from any Laing retireeswho have stories or memo-ries for a major documen-tary series on Suez.The BBC is producing a

series of three one-hourdocumentaries on Suezdesigned to mark the fifti-eth anniversary of the Suezinvasion. They are to bebroadcast this autumn of2006.A spokesman said: “John

Laing was one of the privatecontractors that operated inthe Zone from 1954, andwe would be grateful if anyformer employees of thecompany, who worked inthe Suez Canal Zone duringthe 1950s, would talk to us.“As part of the story we

will be looking at the lastdays of the British in Egyptand we are very keen to talkto some of the civilians whoworked in the Canal Zone inthe mid-50s.“The series aims to be tele-

vision’s most comprehen-sive look at this pivotalmoment in post-war history.The programmes will tellthe Suez story throughinterviews and archive notonly from the UnitedKingdom but also fromFrance, Egypt, Israel, theUnited States and Russia.For the BBC, this is animportant historical andeducational project.”If you wish to pass on your

own experiences for possi-ble use in the TV series,please contact, Jo Glanville,AAssssiissttaanntt PPrroodduucceerr,, 020 8752 4322,

email:jo.glanville@bbc.co.ukSee also story on page 10.

JOHN Laing plc announced it was nolonger in talks regarding an approachfor the Company.Early in December the Board made a

statement to the London StockExchange when the Company’s shareprice rose above £3.60 in responseto City speculation.The release made on December 14

stated: “The Company emphasised atthe time that the approach was in avery preliminary form. Having inves-tigated the approach more thorough-ly Laing does not believe that it is inthe Company’s or the shareholders’

interests to prolong the current dis-cussions. Laing announces todaythat it is no longer in talks withrespect to the approach.“As in previous years John Laing will

issue a Trading Update, on 17January 2006, ahead of theannouncement of its preliminaryresults for 2005 (scheduled for 13March 2006). This follows recentCompany announcements concerningsignificant business developmentsincluding the launch of Laing CapitalManagement and opportunities in thewaste and roads sectors.”

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LIFT progress in good healthExcellCare has announced finan-cial close on sections of two newhealth projects worth more than£45million.The joint venture company estab-

lished by Bank of Scotland andEquion Ltd, which is part of JohnLaing plc, reached financial close onLocal Improvement Finance Trust(LIFT) projects in Manchester andNottingham.The £34.2 million North Notts LIFT

scheme seeks to provide seven newprimary health care centres for theNorth Nottinghamshire region.The project will have a 25-year

lifespan and the first centre is dueto open early in 2007.Commenting on the deal, Ian Wells

of Equion said: “Taken together thedevelopment of both the NorthNottinghamshire and GreaterNottingham projects will help totransform primary healthcare provi-sion within the county.” The latest £11.5 million phase ofthe ongoing LIFT project to reformprimary health care services in theManchester, Salford and Trafford(MaST) region will add two newhealthcare facilities. This is in addi-tion to the seven primary healthcarecentres already being built. Uponcompletion, Equion FM will providefacilities management services. The two healthcare facilities for

the North Manchester Primary Care

Trust, in Ancoats and Cheetham willcommence construction early in2006 (after site clearance andpreparation works) and will be com-plete by late 2007. They will pro-vide a wide range of primary healthfacilities for local communities;including dental care, mental healthcare, therapy and counselling, inaddition to improved GP surgeries. John Cassidy, Chief Executive of

ExcellCare said of the latest MaSTdeal: “This is an important continu-ation of the development for theMaST scheme and for communitiesthat it is helping to transform.These additional two healthcarecentres will, I am sure, become realassets to local residents, and welook forward to welcoming the peo-ple of Ancoats and Cheetham totheir new LIFT centres.”

EQUION’S Freeman Hospital schemehas received an award for its carpark that has been designed toreduce crime.Chief Constable of Northumbria

Police, Mike Craik presented thePark Mark® Safer award inDecember.The hospital is the first in the

Northumbria Police area to achievethe award, which is awarded toparking facilities that have meas-ures in place to reduce crime andthe fear of crime. They must alsohave met the standards of the SaferParking Scheme as assessed by thePolice. The award relates to the 13-floor, 810 bay multi-storey car park,part of redevelopment at theFreeman Construction commenced in

January 2004 and was completed inFebruary 2005, two months aheadof schedule. The Equion project isbeing maintained by Interserve. A spokesman said: Innovative de-

sign and pioneering constructiontechniques were utilised to build afinal product that will be relied onby the Hospital’s staff, patients andvisitors and will help crime preven-tion in the area. It takes a combination of good

design, effective maintenance anda diligent operation to create a real-ly safe car park. IFM are proud to bepart of the team that’s been recog-nised by this Park Mark award asdelivering the highest standards inthese areas. On presenting the award to the

hospital, Mike Craik said: “This carpark is safer because of the securityfeatures it includes, meaning vehi-cles are much less likely to bestolen or broken into. We work withour partners to produce a lastingimpact, reducing both car crime andthe fear of such crime.” You can find out more about Park

Mark®, at: www.saferparking.com

TThhee JJaannuuaarryy 22000066ttrraaddiinngg ssttaatteemmeenntt::AAccccoommmmooddaattiioonnTHE Group’s 22 operationalaccommodation projects continued to perform excellentlyin the second half, and all accommodation projects in theconstruction phase are on therequired schedule to meet publicservice requirements and invest-ment base case. These include schools, local

health facilities, police stations,court facilities and hospitals. TheNewcastle Hospitals PFI (capitalexpenditure £300 million), thelargest of Equion’s projects cur-rently in the construction phase,has made good progress sincefinancial close in May 2005 withinitial Facilities Management services in operation and con-struction on programme andbudget across both the Freemanand the Royal Victoria Infirmarysites. ExcellCare reached financial

close on six further tranches oflocal health facilities during2005, involving £105 million ofcapital expenditure under theLIFT programme. In aggregate,ExcellCare – a joint venture withBank of Scotland – now has ninelocal health centres in operationand 24 under construction involv-ing £176 million of capitalexpenditure. In aggregateExcellCare’s six local LIFTCos -the local joint venture bodiesformed in partnership withPrimary Care Trusts – have anadditional 15 facilities at detaileddesign stage, with a further 40programmed for implementationover coming years. During 2005, Regenter,

Equion’s social housing andregeneration joint venture,reached financial close on an initial two schemes in Stoke andNewham, both of which are progressing well in the imple-mentation stage.

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RReeggeenntteerr hhaass aappppooiinntteedd iittss ffiirrsstt eevveerr CCEEOOREGENTER has appointed social housingPFI specialist Andrew Charlesworth as thecompany’s first chief executive officer.Andrew will be responsible for develop-

ing social housing and community regen-eration PFI opportunities for the compa-ny and building on Regenter’s successesin 2005.Andy Friend, CEO of John Laing said:

“The appointment as the first CEO ofRegenter is a recognition of the growth

of the business over the last two yearsand a clear indication of our expecta-tions for Regenter to continue leadingthe way in the coming years.”Andrew, a qualified engineer and MBA,

has been working in the project financeand PFI sectors since 1998. He said: “Regenter has led the way in

the social housing and regeneration PFIarena in 2005. There are still many moreopportunities to be developed.”

Equion show theyare Park Masters!

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Rubbish contractA NEW train service providing adirect link from North Wales andShropshire to London is proposedto start in 2007.Renaissance Trains is joining

forces with Laing Rail to form theWrexham, Shropshire andMarylebone Railway Company(WSMR) and to promote new longdistance rail services betweenWrexham, Shrewsbury, Telford andLondon, a line of route not current-ly served by through trains. Negotiations have been underway

with Network Rail for some timeand the company expects to sign aTrack Access Agreement to run upto five trains a day in each directionstarting in 2007.WSMR will use modern diesel

trains, which it will operatebetween Wrexham, Shropshire andLondon’s Marylebone station pro-viding excellent access to all parts

of the city via LondonUnderground. Trains will serveShrewsbury, Telford, Cosford andWolverhampton and – subject todiscussions the company will behaving with interested groups inWales - run to and from Wrexhamin North Wales, calling additionallyat Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen (forOswestry).The journey time between

Shrewsbury and London will be alittle over two-and-a-half-hours andthe trains will serve business andleisure needs, including weekendoperations. The journey time to Wrexham is

expected to be around three-and-a-quarter hours. Trains will carry buf-fets, will be crewed with locallyrecruited staff and comprise bothreservable first and standardaccommodation.

LAING Roads & Utilities will be bid-ding for the UK’s largest integratedwaste management project.The division of John Laing plc will

bid alongside Viridor WasteManagement Limited for the £300million contract.If successful, the Viridor Laing

consortium will assist GreaterManchester Waste DisposalAuthority (GMWDA) with their obli-gations under the EU LandfillDirective, achieving high levels ofmaterials recycling and recoveryand radically reducing the propor-tion of waste sent to landfill. This isaligned with Central Governmentstrategy to encourage local author-ities to utilise PFI credits to reachLandfill Directive targets.Viridor Laing will provide a full

range of waste management servic-es through the PFI mechanism,including waste reduction, recy-cling, composting, treatment,recovery and disposal. The twocompanies will also continue to

explore opportunities for collabo-rating together in other waste PFIprojects.GMWDA currently operates and

manages the UK’s largest wastemanagement contract, covering therecycling and disposal of wastefrom across the GreaterManchester area and dealing withover 1.4m tonnes of municipalwaste each year. Viridor Laing’sproposals will provide options forthe redevelopment, refurbishment,operation and maintenance of anumber of essential facilitiesincluding materials recovery facili-ties, an existing thermal recoveryplant, transfer loading stations andhousehold waste recycling centres.The contract is due to be let in April2007.“The waste sector presents Laing

with the opportunity to utilise itsskills and success in other areas ofprivately financed infrastructure,”commented Chief Executive of JohnLaing plc, Andy Friend.

Laing Rail go west

JOHN LAING PLC is part of anAnglo-French consortium biddingfor a £1.5bn contract on Britain’sbusiest motorway.The group comprising Laing

Roads, Costain, Carillion, MouchelParkman, Jacobs-Babtie, VINCI andASF has been formed in responseto the Highways Agency’s call for aphased programme of improve-ments to the M25, and futureoperation and maintenance of thestrategic orbital route.The consortium will bid for the

Highways Agency’s 30-yeardesign, build, operate and finance(DBFO) programme, a contractworth £1.5bn.The consortium brings together

the expertise currently employedby the Highways Agency to oper-ate and maintain the full range ofactivities in the proposed M25

contract. Area 5 is operated andmaintained by Mouchel Parkmanand Carillion, while the VINCIGroup and Jacobs-Babtie operateand maintain the DartfordCrossings.Herve Le Caignec, the consor-

tium’s Project Director, said: “Theconsortium is ideally placed tosupply the full range of skilledpeople required to operate andmaintain the M25 to the higheststandards and we look forwardmaking our prequalification sub-mission in January 2006.”

TThhee JJaannuuaarryy 22000066ttrraaddiinngg ssttaatteemmeenntt::LLaaiinngg RRaaiillCHILTERN Railways had anexceptionally difficult half yearoperationally, with seven weeksof major disruption caused bythe collapse of third party build-ing works at Gerrard’s Crosscausing great inconvenience tothe travelling public. Laing Rail isconfident it will obtain full com-pensation for both the 2005 andlonger term revenue and costimpacts of this event under therelevant legal agreements. Subsequent to full re-opening,operational performance hasrecovered strongly, with a mov-ing annual average of 91.7% ofChiltern trains on time at yearend and passenger revenues inthe latest monthly period up4.3% against the prior year. At the half way stage, ProjectEvergreen – Laing Rail’s innova-tive £80 million DBFT projectdelivering new station capacity,signaling and line enhancementsfor the Chiltern route – is ontime and under budget. The new£20 million Wembley Depot iscomplete and in full 24 houroperation.

TThhee JJaannuuaarryy 22000066ttrraaddiinngg ssttaatteemmeenntt::LLaaiinngg RRooaaddssAVERAGE traffic volumes acrossthe Laing Roads portfolio ofoperational roads were in linewith overall projections for2005. The Sirhowy Enterprise Way (£43million total funding) road proj-ect in South Wales was success-fully opened to traffic on 23December 2005 within budget,three and a half months aheadof schedule. This brings thenumber of operational projectsin the portfolio to 11. During 2005 construction com-menced in respect of the E18Finland (Euro 300 million capitalcost) and phase 1 of the A1 inPoland (Euro 500 million capitalcost) and in both cases is pro-ceeding satisfactorily.

PPrroojjeeccttss ccuurrrreennttllyy iinn ccoommppeettii--ttiioonn aatt tthhee sshhoorrtt--lliisstteedd ssttaaggeeiinncclluuddee:: The £300 million GreaterManchester Waste PFI, whereLaing is supporting Viridor in a50:50 joint venture, which sub-mits its bid in February; The US $ 1 billion Dulles TollRoad, where four competing pro-posals (including the initiatingDCMI consortium bid from Laing,Autostrade, Macquarie & IIP) arecurrently being analysed by theIndependent Review Panelappointed under the Public-Private Transportation Act; thisreview phase is expected to con-clude in Quarter 1 2006; The £38 million Norfolk street-lighting project where a Skanska-Laing joint venture has recentlybeen short-listed as 1 of 4 (thisjoint venture is also competingat ITN stage in relation to the£65 million Surrey street-lightingproject). prequalification for the £1.5 bil-lion M25 DBFO Project (see left).

RESEARCH sponsored by ChilternRailways suggests that transport isvital to the successful operation ofbusiness in the South East. The research was commissioned

by the CBI and found 97% of busi-nesses asked in the South East saidthat transport was ‘either veryimportant or important’ to theirbusiness. In London the figure was98%.The report added: “Businesses in

the South East also highlighted theimportance of staff travel as part ofthe job. More than three-quarters ofthose asked said this was very

important or important to theirbusiness’ operations. “Nearly half of those questioned

cited that their companies werereliant on key staff commuting longdistances to work. Car-parking wasalso an important issue for busi-nesses in the region.Other key findings were that: n transport uses vary considerably

across the country, with rail prov-ing crucial in some parts, especiallyLondon

n The overall cost to business oftransport-created problems is 5% ofthe nation’s turnover

n Companies expect transportusage to increase and to makechanges to the patterns of use incoming years

n Environmental considerationsare a growing influence on busi-nesses’ transport policies Sir Digby Jones, Director General

of CBI, said: “This survey shows justhow reliant UK businesses are onthe transport network. It shedslight on the many different ways inwhich transport impacts on compa-nies, and how they and their staffare adapting in a changing andincreasingly technological world.

New research shows travel essential to business

Company waits on M25 (bid)

Fare’s fair according to Chiltern RailCHILTERN Railways announcedthat there will be no increase onreturn peak or off-peak fares toLondon from stations in the WestMidlands. The standard openreturn from Birmingham toLondon is being held at £65; the

equivalent fare on Virgin Trainsrose by 8%. David Whitley,Marketing Manager for ChilternRailways, said: “Chiltern Railwaysis already the cheapest direct wayto get to London by train fromBirmingham.”

THE website for Laing retireeswho want to keep in touch hasbeen expanded to include morefeatures for the growing num-ber of people logging on to it.The website, sponsored by Laing’s

Charitable Trust (LCT), is simple touse and now includes obituary list-ings. You can also view copies of the

Retired Employees’ Newsletteronline now as well as looking upand leaving messages for friendsand former colleagues you want tomake contact with. You do not even need to have a

home computer to visit the site.Most libraries provide free inter-

net access, although you may haveto book it in advance.Michael Hamilton, Secretary of

LCT, said: “Since it was launched afew years ago, Laing Past andPresent website has attracted moreand more visitors.“The internet provides a global

platform for easy communicationand, by adding extra features tothe past and present site, we hopeit will be more useful and enjoyablefor those using it.”The site features details on: n Welfare supportn Laing retirement clubsn Useful contact numbersn online copies of the RetiredEmployees’ Newsletter

n how to contact friends and for-mer colleaguesStatistics from the website show

that there are, on average, 41 dif-ferent visitors everyday.While the website is accessible 24

hours per day, 365 days per year,Mondays are the most popular daysfor visitors. The website’s busiestday so far this year was MondayJanuary 2 when there were 153 vis-itors to the site, 83 of whom wenton to browse various pages.Statistics also show that some vis-

itors have spent hours on the site.

* We should warn you that it maynot be a good idea to view the on-line copies of the RetiredEmployees’ Newsletter if you onlyhave telephone dial-up for theInternet. Whilst this is fine foremail and also most simple web-sites, the Retired Employees’Newsletter files are quite large andmight take a long time to downloadunless you have a broadband(cable or ADSL modem) connection.

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STAFF at the BritishFilm Institute arelooking for any Laingemployees who mayhave worked with theCompany’s film-mak-ing department.The Laing archivecontains a large num-ber of old film reelswhich were made topublicise and informabout the many excit-ing projects that the

Company wasinvolved in.There are also filmscontained within thearchive of staff out-

ings and sports days.The BroadcastingUnion Bectu is cur-rently carrying out anationwide project onfilms and film makersfrom within compa-nies.If you can help,please contact FinksMedia on 01234360940, or you canemail: info@finksmedia.co.uk

Retirees’ website is revamped

IVY BLANCHARD’S husband Denniswas a well-known Laing man in theMidlands. Alfred George Dennis Blanchard, pic-

tured in front of Prince Phillip, was aSafety Officer in the Midlands. Heserved 24 years with the Company,retiring in 1979, and died in 1988.The picture features a royal visit to a

Laing project. However, we don’t

know which project it is or the identi-ty of the chap on the left. Can anyone reading provide any fur-

ther information, Ivy would love toknow. Contact the newsdesk by telephon-

ing 01234 360940, write to FinksMedia at the address on the insidefront cover, or send an email to info@finksmedia.co.uk

Can you help Ivy toidentify this project?

DDeennnniiss BBllaanncchhaarrdd,, aa mmyysstteerryy cchhaappaanndd,, wwiitthh hhiiss bbaacckk ttoo tthhee ccaammeerraa,,PPrriinnccee PPhhiilllliipp..

Dear sir,I was very interested to readthe article in your last edi-tion from Hilda (formerlyGriffiths) about her experi-ences living on various Laingsites.My late wife and I lived in a

caravan on several jobs. In1952/53 we were at GaydonAerodrome when the Griffithfamily arrived and parked onthe next hardstanding. Donand I worked together in theCosting Department. Thiswas one of the best sites weever lived on. We had asocial club with a TV and asnooker table, table tennisetc, a drama society, cricketclub, football team andother amenities.When Hilda and Don’s

youngest daughter was bornHilda had more than herhands full. We used to pushher in her pram, plus DavidBinnie in his pushchair sothat Hilda could get somerest.In late 1953 I was trans-

ferred to Stevenage and welost touch with them (as wedid other families).I think that Hilda and I

must be among the few sur-vivors of that contract. Iretired in 1986 when wemoved to Stratford. I workedon site at Leicester, Reading,Chelmsford, Thurleigh,Gaydon, Stevenage,Shellhaven and then at R&DBorehamwood,McKinneyFoundations and finally atLuton. I would be pleased tohear from anyone whoworked at these locations

MMiicchhaaeell WWiimmppeerriiss,, 8822..

b ifCCaalllliinngg LLaaiinngg ffiillmm mmaakkeerrss

Lovely toread aboutold friends

Normality returning after floodsHolloway/HWA error

IN the autumn issue we carried theabove photo of three civil engineerspictured together for the first timesince starting at Holloway Brothers. We mistakenly said that they had

started at Holloway White Allom.We are happy to clear this up.From the left they are John Reader,

Roy Graham and Bill Wilkins.

A YEAR after the terribleflooding which left muchof Carlisle under water,things are getting back tonormal and measures arebeing implemented to pre-vent such a thing happen-ing again.Most city residents areback in their own homes.The Environment Agencyhas said that new flooddefences will be in placeby 2010 at a cost of £36million. Thank you to HughMcGeoch for the pictures.

AAbboovvee,,CCaarrlliisslleeuunnddeerr wwaatteerraanndd lleefftt,,ppaarrtt ooff tthheepprrooppoosseeddffllooooddddeeffeenncceess

Just log on to www.laingpastandpresent.co.uk to get to the site

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RREEAADDEERRSS’’ NNEEWWSS

Photographing Ghandi’s funeral

BOREHAMWOOD Bowls Club will be holding their annualbeginners course for anyone interested in trying out, or find-ing out more about the sport. They are free and will be heldon May 3rd,5th, 10th and 12th between 6.30 and 8.30pm.Please call Pat Stamp on 01923 460065 with any queries.

Come and get a medal any readersserving in Suez during 1951-1956LAING pensioner Cyril Blackburn ishoping that a major BBC documen-tary about the Suez Crisis willhighlight the ‘little-known story’ ofthose who were interned whileworking out there.Cyril thinks that there may well

be former Laing employees whowere caught up in the trouble,either working as civilians forHolloway Brothers, or in the armedforces.He said: “As the British forces

were leaving in 1956, civilian stafffrom Wimpey and HollowayBrothers went to Egypt under acontract to rebuild and maintainthe canal buildings and what hadbeen the British married quarters.The story is briefly told on pages127-128 of The Good Builder.“These people spent some time at

the former British Garrison of Tel-El-Kebir in the canal zone beforethey were all interned by theEgyptians at Cairo, when theBritish forces invaded Port Said. “Fortunately they were all eventu-

ally released and able to return toEngland.”However, Cyril’s connection with

Suez goes back further than that,having served most of his twoyears’ National Service in Egypt’sSuez Canal zone. His involvement continues to this

day as, for some years, Cyril has

been the researcher and medalcampaign co-ordinator for theSuez Veterans Association. Their group had a partial cam-

paign success in 2003 when theQueen approved the award of theGeneral Service Medal for servicein the canal zone between October16 1951 to October 1954. Cyril added: “The medal is avail-

able to anyone who served in thearmed forces in Egypt within thatperiod.”Conditions out there were ‘very

unpleasant’ according to Cyril.After World War Two, theEgyptians wanted the British out oftheir country. In 1947 the Britishforces withdrew to a 101-mile longstrip of land on the west bank ofthe canal known as the Suez CanalZone.However, Britain’s refusal to quit

Egypt led to terrorist attacks. TheBritish responded by sending moreand more soldiers and airmen tothe region until over 80,000camped there.

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WHEN England withdrew from Indiaand handed it back to its own peo-ple, it marked a giant change forthe world and Laing pensioner JackMitchell was at the very heart of it.Not only that, as one of the very

last few British soldiers to leaveIndia, Jack was able to attend andphotograph the event. In fact, aduty that he carried out regularly iseven highlighted in the Oscar-win-ning film Ghandi. Jack was conscripted in February

1947 to the Gordon Highlandersand later posted to the RAPC atLeeds and then Devises. From therehe was posted to Meerut in Indiaand later moved to the HighCommissioner’s Office in New Dehliwhere he carried out the dischargeof Indian Personnel in the BritishArmy so they didn’t have to make atrip to Britain.He was stationed in the Dehli

Stadium, right near India Gate. “Whilst there we heard that Ghandi

had been assassinated,” said Jack.

All troops were confined to bar-racks until further notice – thatmeant all 13 of us.“As India Gate was outside our

base, we were able to attend…there to watch the cortege and cer-emony take place. “I was able to get in some photo-

graphs with my Target Brownie, byholding it at arms’ length upsidedown above the heads of thecrowd.”Jack’s presence at the heart of this

historic moment in time was laterportrayed at cinemas.He said: “Each time a mail train

was due to be met at Dehli Station,I was to accompany the OC with my(empty) 303, to ensure safe pas-sage. This was highlighted in thefilm Ghandi.”Six weeks after the funeral, Jack

and the remaining 12 British sol-diers carried out a ceremony inBombay to mark the farewell toIndia, before heading home on theEmpire Windrush (which incidental-ly sank the following year in theMediterranean).Jack, who worked for Laing for 23

years as a Section Manager, is mar-ried to Dorothea. They have threedaughters and a son, who alsoworked for Laing for 28 years intotal.

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The Reunion of LaingEngineers and Architects willbe held again this year at theSports Club in Rowley Lane,on Thursday 16th March.Please arrive at 12 noon with

a buffet lunch at 12.30pm.Thecost is £10 payable at the

door. However, please let IanJarvis know by 13th March ifyou intend to come as theyhave to give numbers forcatering.He can be contacted on:

Tel:01954 203 689, email:iwhjarvis@ntlworld.com

Why not try your hand at bowling?

Meet up with the engineers again

JJaacckk ppiicc--ttuurreedd aatt tthhiissyyeeaarr’’ss LLNNEERR

CChhrriissttmmaasslluunncchheeoonn

1312

A number of projects were being under-taken Heathrow Airport aimed at easingcongestion while discussions continuedabout a fourth London airport. Theseincluded the redevelopment of Terminal 2,widening pier 6 to Terminal 3, building anew office block and finally providing a£2.4m motor transport operation base.Pictured right are some of the site team onthis project: from left to right, Back row:Jeff Kaye, ganger, Steve Hughes, engineer,Alan Bond, general foreman, PaulSpringford, quantity surveyor, NigelSavory, production controller, ChrisMartin, engineer. Front row: Peter Coxand Mark Kermac, general foremen, StuartDamarell, agent and Paul Rackett, materialcontroller.

Southern Region achieved practical com-pletion of a new shire hall for the RoyalCounty of Berkshire. The ‘stunning’ £27mbuilding comprised six octagonal pavilionswith two central cores.

Scottish Region was helping Glasgowregain an important part of its heritage byconstructing a new Grosvenor Hotel afterthe historic original was gutted by fire.This included recreating the famous 1855terrace façade with glass–reinforced con-crete. The topping out ceremony for the£3m project took place in December 1980.Right some of the site team and guests.

Pat Brickett, who had worked for Laingsince 1951 and was export sales directorof SBD Construction Products from 1975to 1979, was awarded the MBE in theNew Year’s Honours List.

London Region began work on the £60mCentral Area Redevelopment at EalingBroadway. The scheme comprised threelarge stores, 56 shop units, offices, carparking for 1,000 vehicles and a publiclibrary. It also included recreation andcommunity facilities including ten squashcourts, restaurants and an entertainmentfacility for young people.

South Eastern Region won a multi-millionpound contract to build a gin-bottlingplant in Basildon.

Steve Hammond won the ConcreteSociety’s Site Practice Award for 1980.

Steve was Laing foreman on the HarrogateConference Centre.

Laing Civil Engineering won a £19.8mil-lion project for a further link in the M25construction programme. It involved aneight kilometre dual three-lane carriage-way section between the A113 atPassingford Bridge and the A12 at BrookStreet near Brentwood.

Ground Engineering was awarded a majorcontract by the British Railways Board forcarrying out repairs for the structure of

Melbury House, one of its HQ officeblocks by Marylebone Station.

North West Region was building a £2.5moffice block in Albert Square in the heartof Manchester for for the Royal LiverpoolFriendly Society.

South West Region had taken on a £4.3mcontract on a restricted triangular site inthe centre of Bristol. This was the fourthstage of Marlborough House, a seven-storey office building for the Sun LifeAssurance Society Limited.

TTHHEE TTEEAAMM SSPPIIRRIITT 5500 YYEEAARRSS AAGGOO –– 11995555//66 TTHHEE TTEEAAMM SSPPIIRRIITT 2255 YYEEAARRSS AAGGOO –– 11998800//11

Whilst the weather was cold and miserablein the UK, the sun was shining on otherCompany projects including a three-spanbridge being built over the Messica Riverin Portuguese East Africa. This pictureshows the first arch being shuttered forconcreting. The third span was delayed dueto a redesign of the base after water wasdiscovered to a depth of 15 feet. A similarbridge was also under construction threemiles away as part of the new 202-mileBeira-Umtali Highway linking southernRhodesia with the nearest sea port.

The opening took place of Bold PowerStation at St Helens, Merseyside. The ulti-mate generating power of the station wouldbe 120,000 kW from four turbines eachgenerating 30,000 kW of power. TeamSpirit reported: “Fifty new power stationshad been created since 1948. Output ofelectricity had increased since that time by76 per cent. The housewives of Britainwere consuming half as much again asbefore 1948, shops and factories wereusing twice as much as before and farmersfour times as much as they were in 1947.”

In its review of Company activities during1955, Team, Spirit concentrated on‘Progress in Canada’ where major projectshad included Annaicis, an administrationblock for The Canadian Bank ofCommerce, two factories and three ware-houses. ‘Added to this of course, are theroads, sewers and the other necessary serv-ices which go to make a development ofthis kind. The Company had also startedwork on the head office for the BC ElectricCompany. It was to be the ‘tallest buildingwest of Toronto’.

Laing carried out a contract to build 3/4 ofa mile extension of ‘two-lane highway’ asan experiment in ‘large-scale road con-struction in concrete’ The contract forNottinghamshire County Council wouldnormally have been carried out with smallscale plant. However, for experimental pur-poses, a large batching and mixing plantand mechanically propelled spreading andfinishing machines were used.The article read: “In view of the impor-tance of the experiment… excess costswere met by a grant from the Ministry ofTransport’s Experimental fund.

It was announced that during this period

the Easiform Group of contractors handedover their 50,000th house. The nationalhousing programme started ten years earli-er in 1945. These homes had been built forlocal authorities all over the country.

Preliminary work for underpinning existingbuildings and excavation for a basementbegan at ‘London’s world famous Gamagesstore’. Construction would involve build-ing an extension onto the seven-storeybuilding.

The Company began work on the 60,000foot Petroflex factory on the Watfordbypass. It would also have 17,000 feet of

office space.Senior quantity surveyor at Gaydon, VGWibberley, qualified for membership of theShark Fishing Club of Great Britain afterhe caught an 86lb Blue Shark.

It was reported that The Daily Express hadcarried an article claiming that United SteelCompanies had lost £6,000 throughemployees ‘irrelevant conversation’ includ-ing discussing the weather and even estab-lishing who the other person was.It added: “In a business such as ours,where even with a close watch for econo-my, telephone calls often have to be made,there is a lesson to be learnt.”

Clockwise, from theleft: AN (Jack)Nethercott, a checkerat Alderley Park, bricklayers, Tom Ayres, BillHiggins, Bill Hornsby(gang foreman) andhod carrier J Collins,ChargehandCarpenter Ted Rivers,foreman bricklayerBill Humbles andAlderley Park OfficeManager Reg Daviesfeeding a swan.

14 15

CC LLUUBBSS’’ CCHHRRIISSTTMMAASS LLUUNNCCHHEEOONNSSTTHHEE TTEEAAMM SSPPIIRRIITT 1100 YYEEAARRSS AAGGOO –– 11999955//66The final unit of the Second SevernCrossing was put in place, attended bythe then Transport Secretary and WelshSecretary George Young and WilliamHague respectively. The project directorNorman Haste said: “It is a tremendousachievement to complete the structural link and means we are wellon our way to completing the project.”

Nightingale Height in Woolwich(below) was a 1960s block of flatswhich was ‘suffering badly from inade-quate heating, insulation and security’.A £4.7m contract by Laing London andSouth East proved to be a model for thetype of improvements that could beeffected and also won a RegionalHousing Design Award.

A review of Mill Hill restaurant showedthat, during 1995 only 140 staff per dayused the full meal service, about 25% ofstaff at the offices. It also revealed thatthe service was ‘heavily subsidised, cur-rently costing over £300,000pa.” Thearticle continued: “Given the presentneed to contain costs in all parts of theCompany and the relatively low usage,it has been concluded that such a highlevel of subsidy can no longer be justi-fied.”

A 6,000-pipe organ was being installedat Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall whichwas being ‘transformed into one ofEurope’s biggest venues’.

Mike Aldridge, who worked at StudioHouse, apparently went on holiday toMalaysia and struck up a friendshipwith a local artist at an isolated beachresort hundreds of miles from KualaLumpur. On visiting his studio it wasreported that Mike was ‘surprised tofind a 1995 Laing calendar adorning thewall.’ It seems that the artist, Syed, didnot normally like to be reminded of thepassage of time, but had displayed theLaing calendar because he liked the pictures in it.

The topping out took place at theMidlands largest construction project ofthe time, the £42m chief office forBrittanic Assurance, Wythall.The three-storey office brought 400building jobs to the area and wouldaccommodate 850 employees.

It was reported that Laing Building hadbegun work on £62m worth of newprojects during January of this year.

Richard Weston is one of the longestserving Laing employees still workingfor the Company. In the December 1995issue of Team Spirit there was a specialfeature on UK Highways which is still apart of John Laing plc. Richard was, atthat time, manager of UK Highwayswho were at that time bidding for M40and A19 contracts. Richard, nowManaging Director of Equion (Laing’saccommodation sector) has now spent38 years with the company. Some of theteam are pictured above at their HemelHempstead HQ. From left to right theyare Vicky McCormack, Tony Gates,Richard Weston, Sheila Kelly and PaulRayner.

Group Chairman Sir Martin Laingreplaced Sir Derek Hornby as chairmanof the British Overseas Trade Board fol-lowing an announcement in Decemberby the president of the Board of Trade.

Work started on the Midland Metro Line1 project which would end the WestMidlands reign as the largest Europeanconurbation without a light rail system.The £11m project was a joint venturebetween Laing and Ansaldo. The linewas to be operated without public sub-sidy and had a total budget of £144.8mwhich was being predominantly met byGovernment, The European Communityand local authorities.

Photo from a feature about Laing’s Library, the Central Technical InformationService. Pictured from the left are: Ann Lyons, Michelle McHugh, EdnaHennem, Sandie Horgan and Nikki Smiton.

THIS season’s Christmas luncheonsbegan with Elstree the oldest of theLaing retiree clubs.

Bill Butterfield worked in the mainte-nance section at Mill Hill for 20 yearsand is pictured below with his wifeDoreen.

Pat Stamp still keeps in touch with for-mer colleagues at the Bowls club. Shesays its never too late to take up thissocial and relaxing sport.

Shirley Napier told how her grand-daughter surprised everyone one day.While changing her baby doll’s nappy,she announced with a sigh: “Thesebabies do take up a lot of time.”

Chairman Don Putman is still as busyas ever. He has been looking after themaintenance at Borehamwood BowlsClub and taken on the vice presidency.He enjoys it there and sees an awful lotof ‘old Laing faces’ too. This year healso raised over £200 by opening up hisgarden to the public (an annual event)which will go towards helping thoseaffected by Pagets Disease.

Harry Snell and partner Rose Finan,both worked at Laing, she in purchasingand he as in-house decorator. Before thathe was involved with much smaller dec-orations in the costume jewellery busi-ness.

June and Charles Nelson are planninganother trip, to relatives in America.

They are all avid readers of this maga-zine as June sends copies across theAtlantic when she has finished readingthem.

ELSTREE: Tuesday December, 6, St Michael and All Angels, Borehamwood

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Anne Smith, Shirley Napier, Elsie Roberts, Pat Stamp and Joan Bland

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1716

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Committee member Ray Wright missedhis first Solare meeting recently in tenyears’ service.

He had a good reason too, he was poi-soned by some food having met up with aLaing colleague for an evening out thenight before.

“No one was more surprised than me,”said Ray, who ended a 38-year Laingcareer as a Project Manager. “I couldusually eat the carpet and feel no illeffects.”

Leighton Davis and Wendy Marples hadplenty of funny stories concerning theirthree lurchers, one springer spaniel and acat. A Lurcher is a cross between a grey-hound and anything else.

Being animal lovers, they take an inter-est in the nearby Greyhound Rescue

Centre.Leighton, former Commercial Director

at HWA said:“We do hear some horrorstories, many of these lovely animalswere just abandoned by unscrupulousgreyhound trainers as soon as theystopped making them money.”

Wendy added: “They are full of charac-ter and very fast. We have walkie talkieswith us when we take them out for a walkthese days as they sometimes run off andfinding them can be quite a chore.”

Apparently the Solent is the mostexpensive body of water in the world tocross, (proportionate to its size). FrankSinnock has made the crossing a numberof times.

This year, however, he and wife Viviane

travelled further afield. Including tripswhere they helped out as volunteers, thecouple visited: South Africa,Bournemouth, Belgium, Dubrovnic,Lewes and Paris. They still found time tothrow a big family party and to helporganise a charity day in their parishwhich raised £6,665!

Michael James is one of the few clubmembers not to have hailed fromHolloway Bros, Holloway White Allomor Victoria Joinery. In fact his only con-nection with those companies was as asite manager for Laing Homes overseeingdemolition of the Victoria Joinery factoryat Earlsfield.

The raffle raised £120 for this year’schosen charity the Association of PastoralCare in Mental Health (Merton).

Don Field was a productivity controllerwith Laing in a career spanning 34 years.He started on the M1 project and thenmoved into London on other projects.

Pat Jones attending with husband Eric,was an Estimator with the Company forabout 24 years working at Brent Street inHendon. Among the many projects sheenjoyed working on were QueensburyHouse near Saville Row and Royal MintCourt.

Old schoolfriends were a recurringtheme at this lunch. It seems thatMaureen Mountford (attending with hus-band Roger) and Marion Donaldson bothattended Minchenden Grammar School,in Southgate.

Roger Mountford, on the other hand,attended Southgate County GrammarSchool. In the 60s, when his wife was

playing in a Blue Circle tennis tourna-ment, a Laing colleague turned up at thehouse to give her a lift. Looking from thewindow Roger recognised the man as afellow student from his year, BarryWhitaker!

David and Barbara Green are newermembers at REAL and were helping outwith the raffle. David, a former Laing

Management man for 20 years, recallsmany enjoyable contracts with theCompany. His first was a giant CourageBrewery in Reading between 1977 and1980. That was followed by a project forInmos to build Britain’s first microchipplant at Newport in south Wales.

Pauline Bryant is so active on the REALcommittee that many people think it isshe who worked for Laing, although itwas her husband Tony. Pauline’s fatherwas a Laing man, Ted ‘Ginger’ Quinn.When her mum needed a kitchen puttingin Ginger got a few Laing lads over tohelp and Tony arrived. He started his as achippy and ended up as a Site Manager.

Derek Maynard thanked the guests andannounced that £150 will be given to WarMemorial Foundation (and doubled up byLaing’s Charitable Trust).

Expectant grandparents Enid and LenHall were on red alert for the arrival oftheir sixth grandchild.

Enid said: “It is due quite soon, butwhen Len and I went home the other dayour daughter was there and told us wecould not go into our second bedroom. Iwas really worried and asked her why.We went up to discover she had filled itwith items for the baby including apushchair, car seat and cot.”

Timothy Broderick spent most of his 42years with Laing in the Midlands, exceptfor a short spell at Thurnscoe inYorkshire (where he was delighted toactually meet Sir John Laing).

Among his favourite projects wasWalsgrove Hospital in Coventry whichwas built between 1963-1969. He said:

“In those days, we hardly used any con-tractors other than a few specialist ones.We worked hard and drank hard but wewere a really great team.”

He and wife Ellen have celebrated 50years of marriage. They met at an Irishdance hall in Birmingham.

Alan Vining was a QS with Laing for 35years and the first job he worked on wasbuilding Mill Hill and he ended up on theBritish Library. He was also on second-ment to the Government helping to workout the Urban Development Grants. Hehad many funny anecdotes, one in partic-ular about a small Irish chap on one sitewas sent off for some first aid training.Off he went in the morning and arrived

back when the lecture had finished.However, it soon became clear that theyoung lad had been misdirected andended up in the wrong lecture.

Alan said: “It turns out he spent the daysitting at the back of a lecture on brainsurgery by a leading neuro-surgeon. Hewas the only person there who wasn’t aconsultant.”

Two members worked together at Laingfor 15 years before realising that they hadbeen on the same army site togetherevery day all those years earlier. EricWoodcock was based at Bottesford Armycamp that had no water or services. ChigGibson was charged with bringing theirwater every day. They found out in 1952.

Chairman Trevor Manning thanked thecommittee and wished Chig a happybirthday. The raffle raised £160.

SOLARE: Wednesday December, 7, Wayfairer Hotel, Wimbledon

REAL: Thursday December, 8, Police Social Club, Bushey

REALM: Monday December 12, Manor Hotel, Meriden

North West: Tuesday December 13, Brittania Hotel, Manchester

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Whilst the Retired Employees’ Newsletterwas unable to cover the North WestChristmas Luncheon, club member FrankHiggs kindly photographed the event.

Club chairman Roy Elliott said: “About40 members, including our guests MargaretStaines and Hugh and Rita McGeoch, werepresent to enjoy a five-course Christmaslunch.

“A raffle, in the capable hands of MrsEira Garth, provided prizes for all andraised £40. A card, signed by all present,was sent to our president with our bestwishes for Christmas and New Year, andhoping to meet her again in the summer.”

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1918

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The latest winter fashion of fluffy hand-knitted scarves were in evidence, bothMargaret Staines and Marie Cullen werewearing them.

Marie said that she wore hers intoDebenhams and one of the assistantsliked it so much that she asked to knowif she could have a copy of the pattern. Asit had been sent by her niece in AmericaMarie said she would have to send off atransatlantic request.

Talking of fashion, Frank McGill waswearing pink socks in honour of SirMartin Laing who has, on occasion, beenheralded for his colourful footwear. MrsMcGill is planning on getting her hus-band a matching pair of garters.

John Dixon had recently returned from a

large family gathering over Christmas.There was a double christening onDecember 23 and visitors from as farafield as the USA and New Zealand.

There were so many of them that, whilethe children enjoyed many presents, theadults agreed to buy for just one othernominated person. This ‘Secret Santa’present system and the holiday were agreat success.

Dorrie Gordon was one of Laing’s clas-sicly efficient and hard-working secre-taries. She also has the certificates and anumber of awards to prove it. Among heraccolades are bronze, silver and goldshorthand speed medals.

It seems secretaries were relied uponmuch more in those days before officeadvancements in office technology.

Maurice Ashbridge remembers the aweand wonder with which the Laing teamworking on the Falkland islands regardedtheir new fax machine. Ian Beckwithrecalled a time when the ultimate officebreakthrough was a banding machine.

Maurice recently discovered that it ispossible to be too honest when a tilerworking in his home announced it was hisbirthday and made the mistake of askingMaurice to guess how old he was. “Goon, I can take it,” said the trader. He wasnot delighted when Maurice guessed thathe was 58, when in fact it was only his48th birthday.

“I wouldn’t have minded, but I hadalready taken about ten years off myguess,” said Maurice.

PHIL and Joan Rendle have many fondmemories of Laing during his 40-yearcareer with the company.

He spent lots of time in the temporaryworks office and worked on contractsincluding the M6 and ended up as a siteagent on the Berkley Power Station con-tract. “I was doing work that I enjoyeddoing,” he said.

Cyril Jones is known by everyone asShamrock, although he won’t let onwhere the nickname comes from. He wasoriginally from Lancashire and spent 39-and-a-half years with Laing, mainly as ageneral foreman. He recalled working onthe M1 civil engineering contract whichincluded 57 miles of road and 51 bridges.

He said: “I remember it was the worst

winter ever, but against all the odds weworked to complete the road on time. Theonly way we could do it was throughhard work. When flat out we would startwork on a Saturday at 11 and carry onright through the night and all daySunday and not clock off until 3am onMonday morning. We made our dead-line.”

Alan Foot said of his 31 years withLaing, “We were all one big happy fami-ly.” Starting out as a joiner, he becameHutting manager. After he retired, DerekMead took over his job. “It took me yearsto sort out his mess,” joked Derek.

John and Peggy Styles were fromScotland originally. When they went backto Scotland some time ago, they decided

to stay at the Crookstown hotel in whichthe Saltire club has its lunches. John said:“We liked it so much we ended up stay-ing two nights.”

Ron Flowers, became a ProjectManager with Laing during 40 years withthe Company. Among his most remem-bered project was the National ConcertHall of Wales, which hosted the RoyalVariety Performance. “I was there virtual-ly every day for four years,” he said. “Itwas opened by the Queen Mother andPrince Charles laid the foundation stone.”

Peter Rowe made a presentation to sis-ter Jan Little of (St Peter’s Hospice). Thelatest £1,000 brings to £11,500 donatedby the club to the hospice over the years.Another £105 was raised by the raffle.

Arthur Armstrong spent 41 years workingfor Laing as a concrete ganger. He startedin 1952, and enjoyed it immensely.

Jim Harrison, who you may rememberwon a special award for his dedication torowing, has another string to his bow soto speak. The former joiner has spentnearly 60 years as a member of BramptonSilver Band. He is a cornet player andused to take part in competitions too.

Cliff Nanson noted that there are somany Polish people living in Carlisle nowthat the Kirkbride Post Office even dis-plays some signs in Polish.

Robert and John Robinson are brothersand both members of the club. However

they had very different careers. Robertwas a bricklayer (spending 26 years withLaing) while John was a joiner who spent47 years with the Company.

John enjoyed working on many projectsin his time, but the Civic Centre inCarlisle sticks out in his mind. “We got areally good bonus on that job,” he said.

Cecelia Morris has become a member ofCarlisle club having moved up from thesouth of the country where she was withClub Solare. She was quick to join upafter arriving to be near her son. Sheloves the area and is particularlyimpressed with the hospitals where shesays the treatment is quicker than she hasbeen used to.

The three stonemasons pictured bottomleft have nearly 150 years’ servicebetween them.

James Laing himself was the first Laingstonemason when he arrived in Carlisle.

As the story goes, he picked the stonesout of the river by hand to build the firstrecorded Laing construction project,Sebergham House

Finally Colin Wood was keen that hisregards should be passed on to BillJackson in Newcastle. The two workedtogether in purchasing in NorthernIreland. Among Colin’s projects overthere were Newtonards Court House andArtillery street.

After 50 years of smoking MattyOvington decided to stop at the age of 78.Eight weeks without a second thought issome achievement. “I don’t know why Igave up, but I am glad I did,” he said.

George and Moira Bell dropped their caroff at the garage for a service on theirway to today’s lunch. George said: “I justhope it is ready by the time we have fin-ished!”

Ralph and Betty Hope were present. Hewas a former Section Manager with LaingManagement Contracting and spent 32years with the Company in total (in twostints, the second of 28 years).

Among his favourite projects was theGlaxo (SmithKline Welcome) project at

Stevenage. “It was a big project and, anexciting consortium between us and theYanks,” he said.

There was a welcome for new membersDoreen and Joseph Beck. He worked withLaing for more than 12 years as aChargehand Joiner. Among his favouriteprojects were Aykley Heads Civic centrein Durham.

Roy Port, with wife Betty, is a Londonlad who spent his 20-year career withLaing in Southern Region at Surbiton.Mainly as a stores inspector, his mostmemorable project was Curzon House, aproject for M15 in Mayfair whichinvolved cutting through six-foot of con-crete walls of an air raid shelter.

There was a rousing chorus of happybirthday for Michael Blakey celebrating

his 84th birthday.John Crosby had been delighted to win a

delicious-looking packet of biscuits in asummer raffle. He was slightly crestfallento discover that it was more than fouryears past its sell-by date!

“It had probably been doing the roundsin various raffles for years,” he said.

However, today’s raffle raised £130.

CUMBRIA: Wednesday December 14, Greenhill Hotel, Wigton

LNER: Thursday December 15, Assembley Rooms, Newcastle

SALTIRE: Tuesday January 10,, Crookstown Hotel, Glasgow

SOUTH WEST: Wednesday January 11, Brent House, nr Weston Super Mare

Margaret Levin, Cecelia Morris andMargaret Hall

John and Sylvia, Robertand Margaret Robinson

George andMoira Bell

Ralph andBetty Hope

Roy and Betty Port

Allan and Margaret Kirkwood,Stan Southern and John Dixon

Bob Curran, Grace Weir, Betty andFrank McGill, Susan and Alex Moreland

Gordon Moore, Margaret Evans,Joyce Tullet, Marie Cullen andNorah Paton

Doreenand

JosephBeck

Phil and JoanRendle

Ron and JoyFlowers

Joe McVittie, TedDrinkwater andRonnie Hodgson.

Brian and JoyceDodds

2120

WWEEDDDDIINNGG AANNNNIIVVEERRSSAARRIIEESS

GOLDENWEDDINGS

WWee llooookk ffoorrwwaarrdd ttoorreecceeiivviinngg yyoouurr

GGoollddeenn aannddDDiiaammoonndd aannnniivveerr--ssaarryy ddeettaaiillss.. YYoouuccaann sseenndd wwoorrddssaanndd ppiiccttuurreess ttoo

FFiinnkkss MMeeddiiaa oorr ccaalllluuss oonn 0011223344

336600994400.. YYoouu ccaannaallssoo ccoonnttaacctt tthheeLLaaiinngg WWeellffaarreeDDeeppaarrttmmeenntt..

We have a ‘loch’ to bethankful for says Bill

BBiillll aanndd FFaayy MMaallccoollmm celebrate theirDiamond Wedding Anniversary in Marchmore than 60 years after a romantic pro-posal on the banks of Loch Lommond.Having started with Laing in 1933 as an

indentured pupil, Bill Malcolm joined upand went on to officer cadet training. Hespent the next five years in India and theMiddle East with the Royal Engineers.Whilst on leave in 1945, Bill who had

seen Fay in a photo, met up with her. Hehad extended leave, having been servingabroad for four-and-a-half years, and pro-posed to Fay on the Banks of LochLommond.Then it was back to India for another year

before demobbing in 1946 and takingback up with Laing. During a 44-yearcareer, Bill became a Contracts Managerand went on to follow in his father’s foot-steps as a Regional Manager.The couple have two sons and a daughter

and six grandchildren. They all plan to cel-ebrate the Diamond Anniversary with afamily party in the Lake District later thisyear.

nn AAbboovvee,, BBiillll aanndd FFaayy rraaiissee aa ttooaasstt,, bbeellooww tthhee ccoouuppllee oonn tthheeiirr wweeddddiinngg ddaayy

RReennaa aanndd RRaayy PPhhiilllliippss celebratedtheir Golden Wedding on December3, 2005.The couple met when they were

both members of the CarlisleCycling Club. It was formed by twoChelsea doctors in 1893 andnamed after Carlisle Square.Ray worked for Victoria Joinery for

12 years in the Setting-out

Department. His role included plan-ning, quantifying and measuringfor contracts. He carried out a num-ber of site visits and enjoyed histime there.The couple have two sons and

three grandchildren. Ray and Renacelebrated their anniversary with aholiday and then family meal atMorden Hall later in the year.

Diamond dancers still enjoying life together

26 NovemberBBeerrtt && JJooyycceeAAddlliinnggttoonn

30 DecemberSSiidd && CCaatthheerriinnee

BBiisshhoopp

14 JanuaryRRoonn && MMoonnaa

DDaavviissoonn

17 JanuaryTToomm && EElliizzaabbeetthh

HHuugghheess

21 JanuaryMMaauurriiccee && NNaann

AAsshhbbrriiddggee

28 JanuaryBBiillll && EEvveellyynn

DDeevveerreeuuxx

10 FebruaryEEddwwaarrdd && JJooyyccee

BBiirrdd

11 FebruaryJJiimm && JJoossiieeLLoouugghhmmaann

It’s Goldentimes forthe GrimesTToommmmyy aanndd JJooyyccee GGrriimmeess cel-ebrated their Golden Weddingon August 20, 2005.The couple met while Tommy,

a welder with Laing, was work-ing on the Portishead PowerStation ‘B’. He had digs in thearea where Joyce worked.Starting with Laing in 1953,

Tommy had also worked onBold Power Station in St Helens.After Portishead he worked onAvonmouth Docks, Berkley andOldbury power stations andMilford Haven Oil Terminal.The couple stayed in Bristol

and Tommy worked out of theWesterleigh Plant Depot duringa 26-year career with Laing.They have three sons, a daugh-ter plus seven grandchildrenand a great grandchild. Theycelebrated their anniversarywith a family holiday atPaignton in Devon.

There were Diamond celebrations forTTeedd aanndd EEiilleeeenn MMeeee with family andfriends to mark 60 years of marriage.They wed on January 12, 1946

although Ted first met Eileen when hewas 15. He was called up at the age of18 and promptly became engaged toEileen.He was then away for three years

before he got one month’s leave.After that he returned to North Africa

for nine months.Ted said: “In our 60 years, it hasn’t

been all smooth, but we are stillenjoying life together.”Ted and Eileen are keen dancers and

also play indoor bowls. The celebrations took place at the

Roslin Hotel, near their Essex home,with family and friends. There wasanother party held at their dance club.

Cycling couplewheely happy

22

IN MEMORIAMNNoorrmmaann BBeeeebbyy, formerly aField Service Supervisor withEPL, Bristol, died on Tuesday31 January 2006. He was 81years of age and retired in1989 after 38 years’ service.

PPaatt DDoollaann, formerly aGeneral Labourer, with LaingNorthern region, died onSunday 25 December 2005.He was 68 years of age andretired in 1996 after 32years’ service.

CCoolliinn GGrraanntt, formerly anAgent with General Works,Stanmore, died on Thursday2 February 2006. He was 97years of age and retired in1972 after 41 years’ service.

BBaarrrryy JJeeffffeerrssoonn, formerly aSenior Graphic Designerwith LTG, died on Thursday26 January 2006. He was 79years of age and retired in1991 after 39 years’ service.

PPaattrriicckk OO''RRoouurrkkee, formerlya Walking Ganger with JohnLaing Construction,Midlands region, died onTuesday 24 January 2006.He was 76 years of age andretired in 1994 after 39years service.

RRaayymmoonndd RRoowwlleeyy, formerlya General Operative withLaing Limited, Northernregion, died on Saturday 24December 2005. He was 64years of age and retired in2000 after 31 years’ service.

AAllff SSmmeeddlleeyy, formerly aChargehand Bricklayer withLaing London, died onThursday 29 December2005. He was 74 years ofage and retired in 1990 after28 years’ service.

MMiikkee SSttoonneeyy, ManagingDirector, Laing Limited,North, died on Monday 2January 2006. He was 58years of age and com-menced with the company in1965, transferring to LaingO'Rourke in 2001.

BBoobb TTrreeww, formerlyTraining Manager with JohnLaing, died on Sunday 12February 2006. He was 66years of age and retired in1996 after 40 years’ service.

PPhhiill WWaattssoonn, formerly anAccounts Supervisor, withEsk Manuf.Co. Ltd, died onSaturday 24 December2005. He was 83 years ofage and retired in 1987 after35 years’ service.

MMaayy WWaatttt, formerly aSecretary with Laing,Scotland, died on Thursday22 December 2005. Shewas 74 years of age andretired in 1994 after 23years’ service.

90th BirthdaysPP MMuurrrriinn – 2 DecemberZZ RRoossttaaffiinnsskkii – 6 DecemberLLeenn GGrroovvee – 14 JanuaryAArrtthhuurr WWoooodd – 14 FebruaryJJoohhnn LLaammbbeerrtt – 17 February

LLIISSTTIINNGGSSDDEEPPAARRTTMMEENNTT FFOORR WWOORRKK AANNDD PPEENNSSIIOONNSS

23

FORMER Chief Executive, Leslie Hollidayhas died after a long illness on 7 January2006

Leslie was born in Sneaton, Yorks, andserved as a Radio Officer in the MerchantNavy during the war. During that time he wastorpedoed in the Gulf of Benin and dated hisfervent interest in sailing from that day, hav-ing taken away a lifeboat under sail.

He joined the Company in 1947, startingwork at Doncaster and spent the next tenyears in the north of England where his firstcontract as site agent was the Holme MossTelevision station.

His business skills and ambition soon pro-pelled him through the Company:

He was appointed Regional Manager of theSouth West Region when the Bristol officewas opened in 1957. In 1966 he became adirector of John Laing Construction Limited;taking over as Managing Director in 1976.He was appointed a Director of John Laing& Son Limited in 1977. In 1980 he becameChairman of John Laing ConstructionLimited & Laing Management ContractingLimited. Following Sir Maurice Laing’sretirement in 1982, Leslie was appointedChief Executive, a position he was to holduntil he retired in 1985.

During his time with Laing Leslie was quot-ed as saying: “From the start I was attractedby the Laing Company’s philosophy andviewpoint on people and methods and I havefelt at one with this philosophy ever since. Itis more than a job.”

Leslie is a past member of the Council ofthe National Federation of Building TradesEmployers and also a past Chairman of theNational Contractors Group and representedthe Group on the Economic DevelopmentCommittee for Building.

He leaves a wife, Joan and two sons, David& Phillip.

Leslie Holliday obituaryWhy not see experts on

entitlements for free?

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PPlleeaassee rreettuurrnn tthhiiss ccoouuppoonn,, FFRREEEE,, ttoo DDWWPP,, NNaattiioonnaall PPaarrttnneerrsshhiippTTeeaamm,, FFRREEEEPPOOSSTT NNAATT2222220011,, PPllyymmoouutthh,, PPLL66 55ZZWW

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EXPERT help on issues includingPension Credit, Council Tax Benefitand Housing Benefit is available freeof charge to Laing retirees.Through a scheme involving Laing

Welfare and the Department for Workand Pensions, Laing retirees canrequest free visits or telephone callsfor advice and guidance on their enti-tlements with experts.This service is free of charge. You

can either fill in the form below andreturn it to the freepost address, orcall the new 3in1 line for which theDWP has provided details (see panelon the right).Welfare manager Margaret Staines

said: “Often it is difficult for people toknow exactly what they should applyfor. However, nearly £2bn of moneyput aside by the Government goesunclaimed each year.”