Interview with Bill Berrett (part 2)

In this section Bill talks of the design and building of Netherfield, describing the process of development of a housing grid square. He recalls the idea of Netherfield Terraces being ‘on the same level’ of design as Bath Regency terraces; but the young architects had difficulty meeting the cost yardstick, and this meant difficulty with choice of materials and a shortage of the bricks which the architects preferred; also, there was the issue of designs with flat roofs, leading to potential future problems. Another debate was about the placement of activity centres on grid squares.

Bill remembers the high stress levels among the Chief Officers. He comments that the team was very well run by Fred Roche: ‘But … the sheer pressure, …rivalries and the stress … took a terrible toll’. He mentions illnesses, marriage breakdowns, and the death of Alan Ashton. Bill began to get disillusioned, saying: ‘I didn’t really want my own efforts to go down as …giving a city image of a series of bloody roundabouts’. They discuss what a ‘city image’ should be. Looking at Milton Keynes overall, Bill says of Central Milton Keynes (CMK): ‘I think Chris Woodward and Stuart Mosscrop did a wonderful job’. He gives his opinion of Milton Keynes’ architecture in general, commenting that some areas are pretty poor, ‘but … it’s a wonderful environment for people to live in’. He recalls a visit to CMK on one occasion when he was really impressed by the surroundings and happiness of residents. Looking back, he is proud of being part of the Chief Officer team: ‘I used to spend quite a lot of time talking about MK to incoming businesses …There were times …of great fulfilment’. He remembers The Dankworths at The Stables concerts at Wavendon, and watching Stephane Grapelli & Yehudi Menuhin introducing the young Nigel Kennedy: ‘Wonderful…those are the people that made Milton Keynes’.