Interview with Mike Dean

While working for Wilford Bros builders, Newport Pagnell on some creative MKDC projects, Mike came into contact with John Bowyer, who owned Newport Pagnell Construction (NPC), of which Wilford Bros was a subsidiary. Mike describes John as ‘a very impressive man’; they developed a rapport and in 1976 Bowyer invited Mike to fill a director post and run his business locally. Mike describes the excitement of building the new city, with responsibility for major projects. He restricted projects to within 20 miles of MK, dealing with houses and some commercial work; gradually he built up a direct labour force and expanded their work into maintenance. Mike describes a number of their interesting projects: the Anebyhus Swedish timber frame home at Homeworld ’81; the Information Dome on the site of the City Church, used to promote Milton Keynes; and the Octo sculpture, also commissioned by MKDC: ‘a very iconic design, this figure of eight’ . They worked for John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and built an engine test cell facility for Aston Martin Tickford, having excellent skills within their workforce. He also recalls ‘years and years ago’ boarding up some old huts in Bletchley, and then later winning the contract to refurbish one of them – Hut 8 at Bletchley Park! Mike became Chairman of the National Federation of Builders in the year when MKDC’ closure date was under question; he lobbied the Secretary of State and MPs on behalf of the building industry locally, to put the case for MKDC continuing to its full term.

In 2000 Mike bought out John Bowyer’s share of NPC, optimistic for the future, with their reputation and the ‘really good clients’ they had; he is now working towards retirement. He has appointed Simon Haddy as Managing Director and they are working on a management buyout. Mike comments that ‘Simon …has the energy and enthusiasm and vision that I think I had when I was that age’. The company name is to change to Wilford & Dean. Looking back Mike says: ‘I’m very proud to have created a business which has got a reputation for quality, reliability and for being the sort of people who will stick by their word’.