Ken Burley
Ken Burley is a keen member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the IHBC. He has been involved with the South Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust (SYBPT) for over 20 years, and has chaired it since his retirement in 2004.
In 2005, the SYBPT bought a Georgian townhouse in the small market town of Thorne near Doncaster, an area with serious economic problems which became a priority for many regeneration grants. The property was bought with a view to helping with the overall regeneration of Thorne and to conserve an important example of the town’s architectural heritage. The SYBPT also has an educational remit, with the aim of promoting the history of the building to the local community. An exhibition about Thorne, in particular the property bought by the SYBPT, was erected in 2005 by students of Sheffield University on a market day and proved to be a huge success in terms of local people becoming interested in their town.
Ken’s planning experience, management skills, high standards, persistence and dedication have been crucial in holding the SYBPT together and enabling it to work to its full potential. He maintains a long record of volunteer involvement with the RTPI and the Yorkshire Branch of the IHBC, often in roles which hold responsibility.
An Award for Special Commendation was presented to Edith Gollnast
Since retiring in 2009, Edith has devoted much of her time to the meticulous drawing of Oxford’s buildings to illustrate a series of books on heritage work. Her work has become an accessible tool for tourists wanting to learn more about the heritage buildings in Oxford, particularly aspects of the historic environment which people might otherwise overlook. Her impressive knowledge of Oxford and the buildings which tell the bigger story of the city’s history, come as a result of working in conservation for Oxford City Council for over 30 years.
The illustrations delight as well as inform and go a long way to making the publications hugely successful. The books are published by the Oxford Preservation Trust (of which Edith is a life member) and provide a valuable and well-used planning tool for both the public and private sector. Apart from a very modest honorarium, Edith has completed her illustrations in a voluntary capacity and all proceeds from the sales of the books go to the Oxford Preservation Trust.