New School Year

Well, the madness has started again with Michelle’s first day back at Sheffield Hallam University as she begins her fourth year of part time study in Architectural Technology.  

This year’s subjects include Architectural Conservation, Environment & Technology, and the History of Architecture.

In Architectural Conservation she will be exploring the philosophy, principles and practice of Conservation.

The Environment & Technology module will be looking at environmental strategies and technologies that are considered to be appropriate in the design of medium scale non-domestic buildings with a drive to design environmentally conscious buildings.

And for the History of Architecture a short residential trip is planned to Edinburgh in November to look at the varying forms and types of architectural building style and to help bring the lectures to life.

All in all quite an interesting start to the year, of course, university + study = assignments and exams and the first assignment has already be issued, there really is no rest for the wicked!

Fundraising success

March 16 saw the staff of Taylor Tuxford Associates taking part in a Fun Quiz show at the Silverwood Miners Welfare in Dalton, Rotherham. This was BluCrew’s first big fundraiser of the year in support of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and was a great success raising in excess of £1900.

What a busy week we have planned!

In the next seven days we are:  -

1. Going to Gretna Green for wedding;
2. Sponsoring the Real Ale festival at Magna, Rotherham;
3. Visiting a recently completed straw bale house;
4. Rehearsing for a forthcoming Charity Show/Quiz night;
5. Travelling to Northampton to the headquarters of the Association of Building Engineers (and back again);
6. Presenting a design project (Canal basin restaurant conversion) at Sheffield Hallam University;

...and that’s not counting our day to day workload! Not that we’re complaining, it’s great to be busy.

Rotherham Real Ale & Music Festival

We are very pleased to be sponsoring a barrel at the Real Ale & Music Festival to be held at MAGNA, running from Wednesday 29th February to Saturday 3rd March 2012. The Festival is 20 years old this year and there will be over 200 Real Ales for you to choose from with a good range of real cider and a huge choice of wines.

                              

The purpose of the festival is to support local charities that help children throughout South Yorkshire. Last year, £35,000 was shared between their nominated good causes. This year the Festival profits will go to the Rotherham Hospice, Weston Park Hospital, MAGNA Trust and Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice (of whom we are a supporter via our activities with BluCrew).

The whole event is organised and run by volunteers. From the people in the "back office" to the bar staff serving your beer, all are unpaid helpers. Thanks to everyone and we hope to see you there.

Life long learning.

Michelle is currently almost half way through the third year of her part time degree in Architectural Technology at Sheffield Hallam University and has been anxiously awaiting the result of a recent exam which she sat in mid January. She’s pleased to have received confirmation that she has attained an excellent pass mark in not only the exam but also the first semester assignments.

The project this semester takes the form of conversion works to a Grade II listed building in the Peak Park to create a new restaurant; this will entail research into conservation methods and practices as well as an element of interior design.

Michelle decided to study for the degree course as part of her commitment to life long learning, she also wanted to expand her knowledge base in the field of Architectural Technology and to challenge her preconceptions and to develop an understanding of the industries emerging innovations and techniques. Of course studying with a group of younger students helps keep the ideas fresh and the subject matter interesting.

Association of Building Engineers Yorkshire and Humber Region

Last night we attended an evening seminar by Cupa Natural Slate – Specifying Natural Roofing Slate at Niagara Conference & Leisure, Hillsborough, Sheffield. This event was hosted by the Association of Building Engineers Yorkshire and Humber regional committee and followed their Annual General Meeting.

Rhys and Michelle, as well as being full members of the Association of Building Engineers, both served as active members on the regional committee. Rhys has made the decision however to stand down and to bring to an end 11 consecutive years of representation. He served initially on the regional branch committee followed by the National Council and Presidential team where he served as President of the Association of Building Engineers and latterly on the regional committee finishing as its Chairman.

The Regional committee would like to thank Rhys for all his hard work; a fellow committee member had this to say:

“It’s a shame he is stepping back because he is a real driving force to the ABE and a credit to the region. I shall miss him because he is a real character and always a pleasure to have been involved with the ABE along side of him.”

Michelle is pleased to have been elected to serve as the Region’s Secretary and takes over the role from Mike Hardeman and our thanks go to him; we would also like to congratulate Basil Parylo on his election to Chairman and to thank Bernard Henry for agreeing to continue as regional treasurer.

You can find the regional Committee on Facebook: -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-of-Building-Engineers-Yorkshire-Humber-Region/188054554562668

Wow, doesn’t time fly?

We hadn’t realised it had been so long since our last blog. Since the beginning of October not only have we been busy in the office but everyone at Taylor Tuxford has been heavily involved with a local fundraising group named BluCrew. This group was set up in September 2009 as an independent fund-raising group with primary ties to Bluebell Wood Children's hospice. They host social evenings, concerts, duck races and all manner of fundraising events.

BluCrew’s objective is very simple – to raise as much money as possible by organising entertainment and fundraising events. Typically they put on Variety Shows and Concerts at venues in the local area and invite members of the public to come along and enjoy the entertainment whilst primarily supporting charity. Their aim is to raise at least £10,000 per year and we are very pleased to announce that the target was surpassed for 2011...well done to all involved but especially to the supporters, without you it would not have been possible.

If you would like more information you can visit BluCrew’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BluCrew