Guest Speakers

Guest Speaker Profiles

Tommy Walsh, Celebrity Builder, Hard Landscaper, TV Presenter and Resident National Self Build & Renovation Centre Celebrity Guest Speaker, brings his skills, tips and techniques to the Centre through demonstrations and anecdotal stories of the houses he has renovated. Tommy, soon to be filming a new TV programme on house construction, will bring his experience of how best to set about on either a new build or a renovation. More...

Edward Sykes is a founder and director of pickupaproperty.com, which specialises in finding properties to renovate across the UK and emailing them daily to its subscribers. He is also a regular contributor to Property Ladder and Move to the Country magazines on renovation issues. Edward practises what he preaches and has recently finished renovating a four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in London.

Joe Martoccia is Director of the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) and Sales & Marketing Director of market-leading self build package company, Potton Ltd. Joe understands the self build process from both sides of the fence, having built his own home in 2000. “I built the house before I joined Potton, using an architect and sub-contract builder. Overall it was a rewarding experience, but I wish I had worked with Potton on my project”. You would, of course, expect Joe to say that, but hopefully he will be able to demonstrate to you his reasons why.

Duncan Mathewson, a qualified Chartered Architect with thirty years’ experience, established his Practice in May 1987. He is also a Director of ASBA Architects, Partner of Mathewson Waters Architects (Lambourn & Devizes) and Director of Four Square Design Ltd. Duncan has contributed articles to Home Building and Renovating, presented seminars on Architecture and Planning and contributed chapters to the Daily Telegraph Individual Homes Guide. More...

Bob Harris is an MCIOB Chartered Builder, professional lecturer and one of the founders of a Becon award-winning series of Environmental Health and related courses under the banner of Agenda 21. Bob hails from a long family line of builders and has worked on site, both practically and in management, as well as in drawing offices. He also runs his own NHBC registered building company. More...

John Patch is a Director of Roger Bullivant Ltd, the country's largest Foundations Contractor. He is a degree-qualified Civil Engineer, with over 30 years’ construction experience, predominantly relating to new-build residential, commercial and industrial foundations and the repair of failed foundations, mainly on domestic properties. His experience of underpinning houses makes him an expert in the art of getting foundations right, particularly when more and more UK housing sites, including self-build sites, are either second-hand, brownfield sites or have poor quality ground conditions.

Chris Hagain is currently Training Manager for the Drainage Division of Hepworth Building Products, one of the UK's largest manufacturers and suppliers of drainage systems. Chris also has many years' experience on the front line of drainage installation, working as a Site Support Engineer and can offer expert advice on choosing the best system for your Self Build. During the seminar, Chris will cover the basics of drainage, factors the Self Builder should consider and how to increase sustainability when planning your drainage system.

Sean Jordan - Having spent over 20 years in the electrical industry, many in the residential sector, Sean now specialises in Home Automation as a Product Marketing Manager for leading home automation specialists Schneider Electric. With a nationwide approved and trained installer network, active in Self Build and Renovation, Schneider Electric are well placed to offer advice and guidance for those embarking on a new project whatever the size.

David Hull – Also specialising in Home Automation and Entertainment Networks for Schneider Electric, David has worked in all segments of the electrical industry from power transmission and distribution, through industrial and commercial power management systems to intelligent homes. His team are responsible for ensuring that all the Approved Systems Integrators, who provide you with the installation and commissioning services, are kept up to date with the latest developments from Schneider Electric.

Tim Browning - Many things have inspired ordinary people to self build in the past; in Tim Browning’s case it was, of all things, a doorbell! It was five long, frustrating years from that unusual moment of epiphany before Tim finally managed to secure a plot of land for his first project in 2001. Now, in 2007, Tim has already built two houses and is now midway through his third and most ambitious development yet; once again making full use of the range of Buildstore services available to him. Set to leave the day job behind in the summer, to concentrate full time on project management and development, Tim is delighted to tell his story of ‘Self builder to full time developer’ and offer advice and tips to those wishing to themselves embark on the sometimes challenging but ultimately fulfilling adventure that is 'self build'.

Geoff Poole is Regional Sales Manager for Hanson Formpave Ltd, manufacturers of Quality Concrete Block Paving.  His day-to-day business involves working closely with Architects, Developers, Contractors and Builders Merchants.  Geoff has worked within the Hard Landscaping industry for over twenty years, during which time he has gained a wide industry experience in roles that include being Retail Manager for a Hard Landscaping Centre, where both DIY and Trade customers would often seek advice. More...

Bob Deller is Sales Manager for Bradstone, a market-leader in the manufacture and supply of domestic natural and concrete paving, walling, edging, decorative aggregates and driveway products.  These products are available nationally through a large number of DIY stores, Builders Merchants and Garden Centres.  Bob has worked in the supply of building materials to the DIY and construction industry for over 30 years, retaining close contact with Stockists, Architects and Landscapers and Contractors.

Robin Miller is a Chartered Builder and Managing Director of Beco Products Ltd, manufacturer of the Beco WALLFORM Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) building system.   Associated with ICF construction for over twenty years, Robin built his first WALLFORM house in 1992 and has been singing its praises ever since.   He is now looking for a plot on which to build a passive energy house using the system, since it is practical for the Self-Builder to use and achieves excellent performance in service.

Tim Crump is Managing Director of award winning T J Crump OAKWRIGHTS® Limited, a company at the forefront in the design and build of new, bespoke oak frame houses. Coming from a carpentry background, Tim previously worked on the restoration and conservation of historic oak frames before making the switch to new build in the 1990’s. Tim is already well known on the speaking circuits for self-builds and has made television appearances featuring OAKWRIGHTS® houses.  Recently (Jan 2007) Tim became a new father of a beautiful baby daughter.

David Franklin is known throughout the industry as an expert in windows, doors and glasshouses. He was invited to assist in negotiations between English Heritage, The Isle of Wight Counsel & The Royal Yacht Squadron to resolve a long-standing dispute that had involved the Duke of Edinburgh over the replacement of their windows. He runs a family company that makes and installs period products but using low-maintenance options. David is regularly involved in public speaking and likes to add a mix of useful facts, small amount of humour and practical advice to give a lively discourse with a Question and Answer session.

Mike Hillard has built what he considers to be the lowest energy house in the world!  He has achieved this by many years’ experience as a developer and by intensive research into the state of our beautiful planet. Tranquility house was built with more than 70 sponsors on Mike’s side and is about to be launched into the public domain. During this seminar, Mike will give you a sneaky preview of how it was all achieved, before his book is published later this summer.

Allan Alexander is Regional Sales Manager for England and Wales for Thomas Mitchell Homes. Thomas Mitchell Timber Frame is one of the longest established designers, manufacturers and suppliers of timber frame house kits, with over 40 years’ experience serving the self builder from their Scottish Manufacturing base. Thomas Mitchell Timber Frame kits are supplied to self builders the length and breadth of the UK, including the Scottish Islands. Exports are made to mainland Europe, in particular France, the Mediterranean Islands and even as far a field as the Falkland Islands. Much of Thomas Mitchell Timber Frames’ 40 years’ success can be attributed to its superior understanding of the timber frame market and their customers’ needs. More...

Max Milburn's interest in building design started at the age of 14 when, as a day pupil of the City of Norwich School, he was given the opportunity to spend Saturday mornings and school holidays alongside practising Architects in Norwich.  He subsequently left school to work permanently with them as an articled pupil and embarked upon a college education in Design and Construction which later took him to Shropshire and Middlesborough. More...