Interview with Frank Henshaw part 3

Frank recalls the vibrant spirit at MKDC in 1971, despite the stress and work pressures. By 1974 he was a chief officer and member of Executive Management Committee (EMC). When Fred Roche left, Frank was appointed as General Manager (GM). Frank details problems he had to address as GM and contrasts the two Chairmen & Deputies of the Board with whom he worked – first Jock Campbell & Evelyn de Rothschild, then Henry Chilver (from 1983) & John Darby. He praises Jock Campbell: ‘…an enthusiast, who cared so much about MK’ – and says that Henry Chilver eventually ‘warmed to MK’. All of them had good government contacts. Frank remembers the gradual closing down of the new towns programme and the announcement in 1986 that MKDC would end in 1992, which gave him many challenges; he recalls government scrutiny of MKDC’s plans for developments before 1992, and comments on Civil Service attitudes.

He then talks of the initial planning for the Shopping Centre: the decision to build ‘one of the largest covered shopping malls in Europe on a piece of land not yet serviced by infrastructure’; Jock and Evelyn supported this ambitious plan. The building contract was awarded to Laing’s; Frank met their representatives on the bare site for a glass of champagne on the first day! The Post Office Staff Superannuation Fund (POSS Fund) agreed to be the major funder. Frank believes Jock Campbell was instrumental in getting John Lewis to come, he considers that: ‘their decision was key to the success of the whole centre’; and he recalls Marks & Spencer’s doubts about taking a unit. Frank talks of the management of the construction project, saying: ‘We knew it was a big scheme but we didn’t think it could fail’. He considered that the length of the building could cause problems if expansion was needed, but, in his opinion, the design was inspired, compared with other shopping centres of the time. MKDC eventually sold its share in the building to the POSS Fund and Frank ensured that Fred Reader, their Property Director, was made aware of MKDC’s philosophy for the building, particularly the need for a variety of shops. However, he realised a local manager’s main concern would be to increase income.