Max’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.

Max returned to East Anglia at the age of 22, whereupon he and his wife built their first new house in Lowestoft in 1963 to a design based upon an innovative family living concept, including a single storey extension for grand-parents. They subsequently moved to Bury St Edmunds and built another new house to accommodate the needs of a growing family.

Max became a partner in the Bury St Edmunds practice at the age of 30 and has since   headed up a team of Architects and Designers, with a wide range of skills in all types of construction projects, including Hotels, Factories, Food Superstores and numerous houses.

His particular passion for housing led to the founding of the Suffolk Housing Society in 1973 which became a fore-runner of today's well-designed affordable housing initiatives, replacing the dull and mundane Council Housing estates of previous decades.

In recent years, Max has specialised in the design and construction of both completely new and sensitively refurbished houses for a variety of clients.   He is a firm advocate of starting the design process from the inside, respecting the way interior spaces can be maximised for daily use.   His preference is for classical symmetry, which can often be seen reflected in the external appearance of his work.

Nowadays there are many listed buildings and much of his experience has been related to the conservation and upgrading of these properties.  He believes this broadens the challenge of combining modern, sustainable and ecologically efficient materials with sensitive, economic and innovative design solutions.

Max is proud to have been associated with BUILDSTORE for several years, as one of its registered consultants.  This has provided leads to a number of clients, for whom MILBURN LEVERINGTON THURLOW has been pleased to provide a wide range of services.  As a result, Max has discovered that the needs of the Self Builder can vary greatly, depending upon the degree of personal input and available expertise.  His practice applauds the simple and straight-forward manner in which advice and guidance is now available through the Swindon Centre.

With family having long since fled the nest, Max and his wife live in a tall and extensively refurbished early 19th century Grade II listed house in the Cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and he continues to accept commissions for projects throughout the Home Counties.

Apart from heading up a business comprising a team of 15 enthusiastic Architects, Designers and Technicians, his outside interests include fund-raising for local charities, the odd game of golf and occasional travel.  You would not be surprised to learn that for Max retirement constantly beckons but remains illusive!