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.