Interview with Frank Henshaw part 4

Frank begins by discussing development of Milton Keynes Central Station, initially turned down by British Rail, but accepted after a second application, based on land values and benefits of a station to CMK’s business district; he recalls Peter Parker’s role. He also recalls his and Fred Roche’s urgent decision to change H6 Childs Way to a dualled grid road so that there was easier access to the new Shopping Building from the M1, avoiding traffic jams and accidents. Fortunately, the engineers were able to achieve dualling by the opening date. Frank describes his promotion to General Manager (GM) in 1980 as: ‘a natural progression’ from deputy. He describes the rhythm of EMC and Board meetings as: ‘the pulse of the place; …everyone left the debrief meeting knowing what was expected of them’. The Board had power to sack the executives: ‘ …you took them for granted at your peril’.

Frank was very pleased with: ‘the way we planned the transfer [of MKDC tasks] to other bodies’ in 1992. He describes some of the processes, including setting up of the Parks Trust. He would like MK to be known as: ‘a place which is good to live in and bring up your family in’. He says: ‘…when building a new town …you’re doing your best to produce something that you think will be fit for purpose’. Frank recounts stories of several significant events for MKDC: the visit of the Queen & Prince Philip in 1979; Margaret & Denis Thatcher’s visit to open the Shopping Building, and Mrs Thatcher’s being told that Hospital funding was needed, which apparently led her to contact the Health Minister. Challenges during his GM tenure from 1980 to 1992, included that he started with only half a team – Fred Roche had taken with him several key people; there were people doing a tremendous job under difficult circumstances. Recalling how MKDC worked towards the Government’s closure date of 1992, he describes MKDC’s brief at the time as: ‘To secure the laying out and development of the new town’, i.e.: ‘ the primary infrastructure is either in place or secured under contract by the time the Corporation goes …including the structural landscaping’. All major infrastructure had been built or was under contract by 1992 and they obtained assurances from the government also for the major facilities of a Theatre & City Centre church.