Allen Duff, Commercial Surveyor and later Commercial Director MKDC 1977-1983
Allen worked in both Hounslow and Bracknell New Town as a junior commercial surveyor, responsible for development of town centre property. He felt that there were opportunities in Bracknell which weren’t being exploited, and saw decisions made on the town centre layout there that puzzled him. He attended an event addressed by Alan Ashton, newly appointed as Chief Estates Officer designate for Milton Keynes. The plans for MK impressed him and when Allen saw MK jobs advertised he applied, was offered a job and arrived at MKDC in 1970. He initially saw in the larger MK a step on his career ladder. Later he realised that MK had a quite different ambition.
Creator
Allen Duff
Contributor
Lee Shostak, Roger Kitchen
Reference number
MKP/018
Storage location
Digital
Records in this Group
In 1970, Allen was offered a post as commercial surveyor at MKDC. His role was in Land Acquisition: buying up land for the development of MK, something of which he had no experience. Working in a team led by Brian Brookman, he ‘immediately enjoyed the job’. Land was first purchased from large estates for the ...
This interview continues with Allen’s discussion of John Lewis and other retailers in the Shopping Building: the agreement with John Lewis was the starting point, he says: ‘John Lewis were the best retail anchor in the new shopping centre; … their presence there gave confidence to others’. Allen recalls the main reasons John Lewis chose ...
Allen heard from Jock Campbell that Michael Heseltine, Secretary for the Environment in the Thatcher government, intended to wind up new town development corporations. He decided: ‘the only reasonable alternative for me was to set up on my own’ and left MKDC in 1983. He had found working with Alan Ashton: ‘an extraordinary experience’, they ...
In the first two photographs Queen Elizabeth is being driven round the Centre, accompanied by Lord Campbell. The Duke of Edinburgh can also be seen in the second photograph. The third photograph shows Allen Duff (centre) being presented to the Queen, with Bob Hill standing on his right.
Photograph shows:
Front row: Derek Pelly, Ray Bellchambers, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (Deputy Chair), Lord Campbell (Chair), Sir Horace Cutler, Frank Atter.
Back row: Eric Barratt, Roger Parker-Jervis, John Darby, Luing Cowley.
The photograph shows the following MKDC Chief Officers:
Front row: Peter Waterman (Social Development), John Walker (Planning), Ernest Pye (Assistant General Manager), Frank Henshaw (General Manager), Keith Revill (Building), Mike Roberts (Finance).
Back row: Chris Hopkinson (Administration and Solicitor), Allen Duff (Commerce), Don Ritson (Assistant General Manager), Ted Hardy (Infrastructure Director), David Crewe (Property Manager and Infrastructure).
The photograph shows the following MKDC Chief Officers:
Front: Fred Roche (General Manager), Frank Henshaw (Deputy General Manager).
2nd row: David Crewe (Information), Ernest Pye (Assistant General Manager), Chris Hopkinson (Administration and Solicitor).
3rd row: Lee Shostak (Planning), Nigel Lane (Exec Director North MK), Ben Affleck (Housing).
4th row: Mike Roberts (Finance), Stuart Mosscrop (Exec Director CMK then South ...
Front row: Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, Lord Campbell, Sir Horace Cutler.
2nd row: Tony Judge, Ray Bellchambers, Joan Christodoulou, Deerk Pelly.
3rd group: Fred Roche (EMC), Derek Crewe (EMC), Chris Hopkinson (EMC), Frank Atter, Luing Cowley.
Members of EMC who can be seen behind the Board members are, left to right: Nigel Lane, Mike Roberts, Allen Duff, Lee ...
Front row (MKDC Board members): Derek Pelly, Ray Bellchambersm Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, Lord Campbell, Sir Horace Cutler, Frank Atter, Christine Bond.
Middle row (EMC and Board members) : John Walker (EMC), Eric Barratt, Roger Parker-Jervis, John Darby, Luing Cowley, Keith Revill (EMC), David Crewe (EMC).
Back row (EMC): Peter Waterman, Don Ritson, Ernest Pye, Frank Henshaw, ...
Mr Honda and a number of his colleagues, were photographed during his visit to Milton Keynes (date unknown) on a trip to Woburn Golf course. Alan Duff (far right) and Frank Henshaw (centre) and other members of MKDC joined the visitors.
Allen Duff is seen (second left) in discussion with various NALGO officials. Date unknown.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page