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News - Archives
TTA AwardsThis year a 40 strong contingent from WBS attended the annual Tile Association Awards at Solihul on Saturday 10th June 2006 and as well as watching the start of the England world cup campaign, we collected an award for the ‘Best use of Tile in a Leisure Development’ for our work at The Brit Oval cricket ground London recently completed for Taylor Woodrow. Construction News AwardsWe would like to announce that we have been nominated as a finalist for the Construction News Specialists in Construction Awards 2006 in the Finishing and Fit-out category, also held at the London Hilton Park Lane. We attended with a number of Directors and senior staff from our major clients in the industry.Building Magazine AwardsWe would like to note that we have been nominated as a finalist for Building Magazine Specialist Contractor Awards 2005 in the Flooring category, held at the London Hilton Park Lane recently. We attended with guests from our major project at London St Pancras Station.The Worshipful Company of Tilers and BricklayersFollowing a nomination, our work at Borough Underground Station has received the prestigious award for Applied Tiling at this LUL Heritage Station. The work has been carried out in a traditional black and white style common on the Northern Line, and is meticulously cleaned and maintained by the station staff. The award was presented to our Forman Tiler John Anderson along with the Architect (Ruddle Wilkinson) and Contractor (YJL) at Painters Hall on 21st June 2005. TTA AwardsA 20 strong contingent from WBS attended the annual Tile Association Awards at Solihul on Saturday 16th April 2005 and collected an award for the ‘Best use of Tile in a Housing Development’ for the work at Westminster Apartments London recently completed for Laing O’Rourke. Rugby ShirtsWarlingham RFC (Under 14’s) are now the proud wearers of shirts sponsored by W.B.Simpson. As under 13’s they won promotion to the Premier Division of the Surrey Juniors League. Swing Low!!!!
London Underground KnightsbridgeRegular travellers on the Piccadilly Line will have noticed that the ticket hall and lobbies at the Harvey Nicholls end of this station has been closed for approx 6 weeks, leaving quite a crush at the Harrods end when using the station. Along with Main Contractor Gleeson, we have just completed £875,000 worth of tiling and terrazzo works during the 6 week closure. This involved 5 new staircases, rendered walls and ceramic tiling, insitu and precast terrazzo floors and details, and limestone hexagonal columns. Whilst not the largest contract we have carried out, given the length of time to do the work, we think that this is the most money we have earned in this period of time, a credit to the stability of the company. RAK Factory VisitFollowing the award of the Wembley project, we arranged a visit to the tile factory situated on the outskirts of Dubia along with representatives from Wembley, Multiplex and the design team from the stadium. Many technical issues were discussed and dealt with at the factory which should mean a good result on site. Of course, with a visit to somewhere like Dubai, we could not resist a bit of social welfare, which included a desert safari and a visit to the prestigious ‘Palm’ complex.
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Brian James
Earlier this year, MD Brian James decided that it was time to hang up his HI Vis and retire to his stately mansion in deepest Crawley. Brian first joined WBS in 1960 as a draughtsman, and has progressed through the ranks to being co-owner of the company during his long career here. We are both pleased and sad at the prospect of his leaving, however he is retaining some interest as a part time terrazzo consultant for the immediate future with full retirement to follow.
Wembley Stadium
We are pleased to announce that following lengthy negotiations, we have secured the £3M tiling works at this high profile project from the Australian based contractor Multiplex. The project has 30,000sm of porcelain tiles throughout the building in the restaurants, boxes, toilets and concourses areas, plus wall tiling to the changing rooms and wc areas. The tiles are being supplied by RAK of the UAE. Work is due to start in May and complete by December this year. More soon.
Graniti Fiandra
Along with representatives from Swedecore, Paul Valler and Steve Medhurst visited the factory and production line of this tile manufacturer based in Modena, Italy during September 2004.
Set in a complete city of approx. 350 ceramic and porcelain factories, this impressive facility produces 30,000sm of product every day. The site also has an equally impressive showroom displaying each of their products, as well as their own polishing plant and water jet cutting facility.
The visit was rounded off with a visit to the Ferrari Museum located along the road displaying an equally impressive range of their Formula 1 cars and memorabilia, as well as a sight of the Fiorano test track next door.
Goodbye
After 47 years of service to the company, receptionist Jean Pickard has decided to retire to a life of travelling and relaxation with husband Jimmy, and left the company as of 31st May 2004.
Good Luck and a happy retirement from everyone at W.B. Simpsons!!
Terrazzo Federation Visit
Along with other contractors, suppliers and representatives of the trade association (NFTMMS) Brian James, Steve Medhurst, and Nigel Smith travelled to Sicily during May to visit and inspect marble works and quarry sites in this region.
Those visited were principally owned by Antonino Maltese based in Trapani, and the material is known as Perlato di Sicilia, a light cream coloured marble, quarried from Custonaci. Other creams and light brown variations are also produced in the region, but the major product is Perlato. Other works at Erice and Valderice were also inspected featuring typical cutting, planning and production methods for this type of material. Following a further visit to the spectacular 3000 metre high Mt Etna on the East of the island, we also looked at the quarry and works of LSB (Lavorazione Speciale Basalto) who produce lavastone products which are similar to granite from the volcanic surroundings.
The visit also took in Erice, a mountain top Greco Roman city in the north west, the salt flats at Masala and the magnificent Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armania which houses 3500sm of mosaics recently excavated after 700 years of being hidden under mud from a 12th century flood.
Other cultural enlightenments, usually involving seafood, pasta, and grappa, were also dealt with, and local red and white wine was also appreciated along the way.
New Transport
Look out for our own Knight of the Road, “Hot” Rod Bowker, who has just taken delivery of the brand new W. B. Simpson & Sons truck.
The vehicle, a DAF LF.45.180, is decked out in cream and brown livery, colours associated with the company, and was custom built by to Rod’s own specification, and designed to suit the transport of our products to and from our sites.
Schluter Factory Visit
Along with other members of The Tile Association (TTA), Paul Valler and Steve Medhurst visited the factory and training centre of Schluter Systems at Isolohn Germany during March, initially to view the factory and warehouse facility.
As well as being impressed with the set up of both of these areas, the product training and R&D were equally impressive. The quality of the product and the thought process behind it reinforces the view that these products are probably the best in the world.
So impressed were W. B. Simpson’s that 9 of our supervisors and fixers were sent over during May to receive the product training and knowledge that we will require to enhance future work.
Warehouse Extension
As part of the future expansion of the company, we have invested in an extension to our existing warehouse building at the Goods Yard in Banstead.
The extension will now provide weather and security cover to an otherwise open storage area. A mezzanine floor accessible from the elevated driveway will also provide secure storage for our plant and equipment as well as a workshop for small repairs.
The building is a now traditional “shed” comprising steel frame on pad foundations and metal cladding to the roof and walls, with a power-float finish floor. The extension will add 14m x 14m to the existing building, and is being constructed by a local contractor.
Check the photographs for the latest progress.
Birse Racing
Look out for the WBS logo on the 2 bike team motorcycle sidecar outfit of Lee Collins and Peter Khoshaba. They can be seen racing at major motorsport venues throughout the season.
Maidstone Swimming Club
Low-key support of local community events continue with help and support for this clubs annual Biathlon event. Approx 100 boys and girls take part in this event comprising a 400 metre swim followed by a 1500 metre run. WBS have provided some of the prizes.
Fred Cooper
With regret, we announce the passing away of Fred Cooper on 25th January 2003. Fred was 66 and joined the company as an apprentice in 1953, leaving only for National Service, which was compulsory at the time. He was an excellent craftsman, skilled in all aspects of marble and terrazzo work and popular amongst the workforce for his forthright views on the world. Although he had officially retired last year aged 65, he continued to work on a part time basis if an appropriate job became available, however ill health restricted this in recent months. He is survived by his wife and 18 year old son.
London Triathlon
Commercial Manager Steve Medhurst has foolishly agreed to take part in the Olympic distance London Triathlon on Sunday 3rd August 2003. The event comprises a 1500m swim in open water in the Royal Dock, followed by a 40km bike ride and 10km run around the docklands roads. Apart from the challenge of the event, Steve will be running to raise money for the Bobby Moore Cancer Research Fund and would welcome any contributions.
CSCS Scheme
Following the introduction of this scheme by the Major Contractors Group (MCG), we have now made application for registration via The Tile Association for our total workforce. We are now in the process of following up our operatives who have taken the Health & Safety test and are in the process of applying for the CSCS card. We expect to be fully compliant by the deadline of 31st December 2003.
London Underground
With the permission of LUL we have recently placed our name plate in discreet positions within the wall tiling on various stations within the system, notably the Central, Northern, and Bakerloo lines. This of course follows the tradition started over 100 years ago when W.B. Simpson & Sons carried out the tiling to the original stations.
If you can spot these any of these tiles with our name and distinctive logo, let us know which station you saw them at via the e-mail contact on this site, and we will dispatch a bottle of wine to the first 10 ‘spotters’.
Good Luck.
Mapei Golf Day
Following an invitation to a day of golf at Cottesmore Golf Club Sussex during June, Nigel Smith took on the challenge on behalf of the company, and not only had a great time but came away as the winner of the event. No scores are available so we cannot be sure of the winning margin, but a win is a win!!
Dubai Visit
Director Paul Valler recently paid a visit to the works and factory of RAK, one of Dubai’s main manufacturers along with representatives of DomusTiles to check out the production standards and potential of this supplier. Look out for this country as a major supply force in the future.
Tile Awards
W.B.Simpson have been nominated at the Expo-Tile Exhibition for “Best Use of Tiles” in a commercial use with the project at Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom. This is an eight lane swimming pool with changing and other leisure facilities using the Olympic range of tiles form Swedecore.
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