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The <strong>Hills</strong> <strong>Group</strong> Newsletter<br />
intouch<br />
Issue 14 December 2007<br />
‘Top Gun’<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>See</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>feature</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>John</strong> <strong>Da</strong>y - <str<strong>on</strong>g>page</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6<br />
> H<strong>on</strong>da<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> secures c<strong>on</strong>tract<br />
> Overweight?<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> solves the problem<br />
> Shorncote & Latt<strong>on</strong><br />
Fossils Galore
Comment<br />
by Alan Pardoe, <strong>Group</strong> Chief Executive<br />
and Mike Hill, Company Secretary<br />
Cover story<br />
It is always sad to lose a good member of staff, e<str<strong>on</strong>g>special</str<strong>on</strong>g>ly when they d<strong>on</strong>'t want to give<br />
up work. Read about <strong>John</strong> <strong>Da</strong>y and his c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to our aggregates business for over<br />
30 years, as well as his bravery and exploits since recently being diagnosed with a<br />
terminal illness.<br />
The team keeps growing...<br />
We have seen unprecedented growth in the number of people employed by the <strong>Group</strong>,<br />
with the workforce growing by more than 10 % in the last couple of m<strong>on</strong>ths to nearly<br />
400 people. The last time that this many people were employed by the <strong>Group</strong> was back<br />
in the 1970s, and this time ten years ago the number stood at 119! You can read about<br />
18 new recruits <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>page</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3 due to having w<strong>on</strong> the prestigious recycling c<strong>on</strong>tract at<br />
H<strong>on</strong>da. So a warm welcome to all joiners, we hope you stay for many years!<br />
<strong>Group</strong> leadership changes<br />
The <strong>Group</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinues to grow and evolve and as recently announced our roles will be<br />
changing next April when Alan replaces Robert Hill as <strong>Group</strong> Chairman and Mike moves<br />
to take up the <strong>Group</strong> Chief Executive positi<strong>on</strong>. Obviously more news <strong>on</strong> this will <str<strong>on</strong>g>feature</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
in the next issue.<br />
<strong>Group</strong> Performance<br />
Our recently audited accounts c<strong>on</strong>firmed record results for the year to the end of April,<br />
with profit before tax of £8.4 milli<strong>on</strong>. These results were due to str<strong>on</strong>g performances<br />
from all our businesses. We are hoping for another str<strong>on</strong>g performance, although results<br />
next year will probably be slightly down <strong>on</strong> this year. Again, we thank you all for your<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinued efforts.<br />
Charity Golf <strong>Da</strong>y a huge success<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> were extremely proud to be the main sp<strong>on</strong>sors of<br />
the <strong>Da</strong>vid Howell Pro-Am held at the Broome Manor<br />
Golf Course recently in memory of local golfer and<br />
former Broome Manor assistant professi<strong>on</strong>al Toby<br />
Drayt<strong>on</strong> who died of a rare heart c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> at the age<br />
of 37. The company felt a str<strong>on</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with this<br />
event, as not <strong>on</strong>ly had Ryder Cup hero <strong>Da</strong>vid w<strong>on</strong> the<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> Junior Open Champi<strong>on</strong>ship twice, but Toby had<br />
also played in both the Junior Open and the <strong>Hills</strong><br />
Wiltshire Professi<strong>on</strong>al Champi<strong>on</strong>ship.<br />
<strong>Da</strong>vid had persuaded many fellow European Tour stars<br />
to fly in and play which allowed more than 3,000<br />
spectators to marvel at the excepti<strong>on</strong>al golf from<br />
players such as Paul Casey, Niclas Fasth, Graeme<br />
McDowell and Bernard Gallacher as well as <strong>Da</strong>vid<br />
himself.<br />
The <strong>Hills</strong> team was captained by <strong>Da</strong>vid and included<br />
Alan Pardoe, Chief Executive, Ross Snape of the<br />
Kilbride <strong>Group</strong> and Craig Scott of Natwest. The<br />
amateurs in our team described it as <strong>on</strong>e of the most<br />
daunting yet amazing experiences they have had, for<br />
not <strong>on</strong>ly did they have to drive off the first through a<br />
funnel of 500 spectators, but a gallery of 500<br />
followed them around the entire 18 holes with<br />
several thousand watching them finish <strong>on</strong> the 18th!<br />
“it was as if the Ryder Cup had come to Swind<strong>on</strong> for<br />
the day,” said Mike Hill the following day.<br />
Paul Casey<br />
Niclas Fasth<br />
The <strong>Hills</strong> team - Craig Scott,<br />
Alan Pardoe, Ross Snape and<br />
<strong>Da</strong>vid Howell<br />
The proceeds from the event which reached almost £100,000 were d<strong>on</strong>ated to the<br />
British Heart Foundati<strong>on</strong> and Toby’s young family.<br />
Alan Pardoe<br />
Mike Hill<br />
Useful c<strong>on</strong>tact<br />
numbers &<br />
website<br />
informati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Group</strong> website<br />
www.hills-group.co.uk<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> Homes<br />
www.hills-homes.co.uk<br />
Human Resources<br />
Dept<br />
01672 518924<br />
IT Help Desk<br />
01672 518932<br />
C<strong>on</strong>fidential HOTLINE<br />
0800 328 4735<br />
(for reporting suspici<strong>on</strong> of fraud,<br />
theft or health and safety breaches etc)<br />
2 intouch<br />
M<strong>on</strong>ique Hayes<br />
Publishers Note<br />
‘intouch’ is published by The <strong>Hills</strong> <strong>Group</strong> Limited and is distributed three times a<br />
year to employees, pensi<strong>on</strong>ers, shareholders and friends of The <strong>Hills</strong> <strong>Group</strong><br />
Limited and its various trading divisi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <strong>Hills</strong> <strong>Group</strong> Limited, Ailesbury Court, High Street, Marlborough SN8 1AA<br />
Tel: 01672 516999 www.hills-group.co.uk<br />
Issue No 15 will be published in April 2008; please submit news and<br />
photographs (if possible) to M<strong>on</strong>ique Hayes, either to the above address, <strong>on</strong><br />
teleph<strong>on</strong>e (01672) 518941, or via email to mhayes@hills-group.co.uk<br />
The newsletter is printed <strong>on</strong> recycled paper.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tents<br />
Comment 2<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> News 3<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> Homes 4-5<br />
Quarry Products 6-7<br />
Waste Soluti<strong>on</strong>s & Recycling 8-9<br />
People News 10-12
HILLS<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> secures another major<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tract with H<strong>on</strong>da<br />
“This dem<strong>on</strong>strates to the industry our willingness to<br />
become actively involved with major waste producers from<br />
producti<strong>on</strong> right through to recovery, recycling and final disposal,” was<br />
the comment from Alex Marland, Development Manager, following the<br />
announcement that <strong>Hills</strong> Waste Soluti<strong>on</strong>s had been awarded the Lineside Waste<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tract for the H<strong>on</strong>da plant in Swind<strong>on</strong>. “It is an important gain for the Company and<br />
further cements our relati<strong>on</strong>ship with H<strong>on</strong>da.”<br />
Caroline Sloman,<br />
Bids Co-ordinator<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong> to holding the Waste collecti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tract for the plant, which has been bid for and<br />
secured by the Company annually since 2000, the new Lineside C<strong>on</strong>tract involves the<br />
management of 18 pers<strong>on</strong>nel inside the H<strong>on</strong>da complex. They are resp<strong>on</strong>sible for collecting<br />
and segregating wastes for recycling from the producti<strong>on</strong> of 885 cars per day.<br />
The bid was prepared and presented to H<strong>on</strong>da by Caroline Sloman, Bids Coordinator, who also<br />
played a major part in the initial start up of the c<strong>on</strong>tract with Richard B<strong>on</strong>d, Key Accounts<br />
Manager. Caroline is now handing the c<strong>on</strong>tract over to Richard who will be recruiting a Waste<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tract Manager to manage both the H<strong>on</strong>da Collecti<strong>on</strong> and H<strong>on</strong>da Lineside C<strong>on</strong>tracts as <strong>on</strong>e.<br />
Once recruited the new Waste C<strong>on</strong>tract Manager will be reporting to Richard B<strong>on</strong>d and will be<br />
based within the H<strong>on</strong>da complex to ensure optimum c<strong>on</strong>tractual support.<br />
Richard B<strong>on</strong>d, Key<br />
Accounts Manager<br />
New recruit...<br />
to recruit!<br />
Pamela Jacks<strong>on</strong> joined us in August as our new Recruitment<br />
Coordinator, before c<strong>on</strong>fusingly becoming Pamela Hunt in<br />
September after marrying her fiance <strong>Da</strong>n! However Pamela<br />
has taken such life changing events in such a short space<br />
of time in her stride to help the <strong>Group</strong> focus and improve <strong>on</strong><br />
our selecti<strong>on</strong> and recruitment of new staff. Over time we<br />
hope to c<strong>on</strong>tinue improving our recruitment processes,<br />
advertising and selecti<strong>on</strong> techniques to ensure that we<br />
help management hire the right staff for the right jobs. She<br />
arrived at just the right time with October al<strong>on</strong>e seeing 151 applicati<strong>on</strong> forms sent out, 41<br />
applicants assessed and interviewed, 38 job offers sent out and 25 c<strong>on</strong>firmed new starters!<br />
“I have enjoyed my first three m<strong>on</strong>ths,” Pamela told us, “with unique experiences such as learning<br />
about landfill sites, leachate pipes and lago<strong>on</strong>s whilst off-roading with Brian Fitzpatrick! Every<strong>on</strong>e<br />
has been very welcoming and supportive and I am very pleased to be involved and aim to make a<br />
real difference in the recruitment practices for <strong>Hills</strong>.”<br />
Welcome <strong>on</strong> board Pamela!<br />
Ties and Scarves<br />
The new-look <strong>Hills</strong>’ corporate tie and scarf are now available<br />
to those members of staff who would like to wear them. Both<br />
are 100% polyester – the tie has a ‘self-stripe’ in the fabric<br />
and the scarf is 137cm l<strong>on</strong>g.<br />
Available from M<strong>on</strong>ique Hayes, Communicati<strong>on</strong>s Officer at<br />
Head Office.<br />
intouch 3
HILLS HOMES<br />
New Austen Mini<br />
arrives right <strong>on</strong> cue<br />
Mr and Mrs<br />
Austen had<br />
their first baby<br />
and moved into <strong>Da</strong>iry<br />
House at our site in<br />
Burbage - all in the<br />
same week!<br />
Josi Hobbs, PT<br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Assistant, has been<br />
able to give purchasers<br />
of our Burbage site the<br />
benefit of her interior<br />
design skills and is<br />
pictured here with the<br />
Austens and baby<br />
Olivia in their new<br />
kitchen.<br />
Josi Hobbs (right) with<br />
the Austen family<br />
Our new Eden Project is ready!<br />
Presenting our new 3 bedroom Eden home! On Saturday<br />
27th October we held an open day at Ermin Gate.<br />
Halloween face painting and a treasure hunt kept small<br />
people amused, leaving the parents to have a look<br />
around the new view home. The Eden home is available<br />
to purchase from £214,950.<br />
4 intouch
Every cloud has<br />
a silver lining<br />
Welcome<br />
Lynette Hemmings has come to join <strong>Da</strong>ve<br />
Bevan, Finance Director, <strong>on</strong> the property<br />
accounts team, taking over from Stuart<br />
Prest<strong>on</strong>, who retired in July this year.<br />
Despite difficulties in getting started <strong>on</strong> site sales at our Fairfield<br />
development in Silver Street, Minety are off to a good start with<br />
4 out of the 11 properties having been sold ‘off plan’. Properties<br />
remaining are 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Further details are<br />
available from Fi<strong>on</strong>a Laws<strong>on</strong>, Sales Manager, <strong>on</strong> 01672 518944<br />
during office hours.<br />
Stuart (right) and <strong>Da</strong>ve wish Lynette well<br />
in her new post<br />
Up and Coming<br />
We now have our work cut out for us with 4<br />
exciting new sites in the pipeline. Next <strong>on</strong> the<br />
list are seven new homes in the pretty village<br />
of Burt<strong>on</strong> near Castle Combe. To follow <strong>on</strong><br />
come sites in Malmesbury, Heystesbury and<br />
Southrop near Lechlade.<br />
Artist’s impressi<strong>on</strong> of the ‘Barnwood’ style home at Fairfield<br />
The land in Burt<strong>on</strong> which is to be developed with<br />
seven new homes<br />
Safety first<br />
Ten of the <strong>Hills</strong> Property staff recently passed<br />
their CSCS Health & Safety tests. These have<br />
to be taken by any<strong>on</strong>e who regularly visits a<br />
building site. It was heads down for revisi<strong>on</strong><br />
while they tackled such knotty problems as ‘a<br />
ladder should not be painted because…’<br />
Left to right are: <strong>Da</strong>vid Law, Senior Quantity Surveyor,<br />
Fi<strong>on</strong>a Laws<strong>on</strong>, Sales Manager, Mike Hercock, Buyer,<br />
Jamie Andrews, Land & Planning Manager, <strong>Da</strong>ve Bevan,<br />
Finance Director, Colin Woodhouse, Development<br />
Manager and Josi Hobbs, PT Administrati<strong>on</strong> Assistant.<br />
intouch 5
QUARRY PRODUCTS<br />
Thanks<br />
<strong>John</strong><br />
Many current and former employees of the<br />
Company were very sad to hear the news<br />
that <strong>John</strong> <strong>Da</strong>y, foreman at Latt<strong>on</strong> Quarry<br />
was diagnosed with a terminal illness forcing<br />
him to give up work for the Company after<br />
31 years.<br />
ohn joined as an HGV driver at Kingshill in May<br />
1976, before so<strong>on</strong> moving to Aggregates as a pit<br />
Joperative. He subsequently worked at many pits<br />
including Fairford, Lechlade, Sandpool and Barnground<br />
and was promoted to foreman in September 1987.<br />
At Barnground he was nicknamed the 'Mole' by Doug<br />
Wheeler due to his ability to create heaps everywhere!<br />
In 1990 <strong>John</strong> moved to Shorncote Quarry as foreman<br />
and started his DAPS course (D<strong>on</strong>caster Assisted<br />
Private Studies), which he completed the following<br />
year, when he was made Quarry Quality C<strong>on</strong>troller.<br />
In August 1994 he moved up to Ryall House Farm<br />
Quarry in Worcestershire as Producti<strong>on</strong> Supervisor.<br />
It was there where he was joined by a young Mike<br />
Hill who had just left accountancy to join the family<br />
firm. “I had a great 5 or 6 m<strong>on</strong>ths at Ryall,” Mike<br />
remembers, “you couldn't have a better man than<br />
<strong>John</strong> showing you the ropes. He was totally in love<br />
with quarrying and seemed to really enjoy teaching<br />
me how to operate the big machines and explaining<br />
how the washing plant worked.”<br />
<strong>John</strong> and Ellie <strong>Da</strong>y<br />
<strong>John</strong> returned to Shorncote as Relief Foreman in<br />
May 1996 after Ryall House Farm Quarry was sold<br />
to RMC. In November that year, a joint venture was<br />
formed with Aggregate Industries to open and run<br />
Latt<strong>on</strong> Quarry, and <strong>John</strong> moved there as foreman<br />
working with <strong>John</strong> Wheeler. In January 2000<br />
Andrew Liddle moved over to Latt<strong>on</strong> to work with<br />
<strong>John</strong> and over the next seven years they moved<br />
the Latt<strong>on</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> forward to what it is today.<br />
The lakes at Latt<strong>on</strong> have received comment from<br />
numerous parties as showing an excellent example<br />
of quarry operati<strong>on</strong>s and restorati<strong>on</strong> at the<br />
gateway to the Waterpark. <strong>John</strong> remained at Latt<strong>on</strong><br />
until the diagnosis of liver and pancreatic cancer<br />
prevented him from carrying <strong>on</strong>.<br />
<strong>John</strong> has shown a remarkably philosophical, brave<br />
and positive attitude since learning about his<br />
illness and has not been sitting idle since stopping<br />
work. He has enjoyed an evening with work<br />
colleagues past and present at the Elliot Arms in<br />
South Cerney, as well as a 'thank you ' lunch with<br />
his manager, Company directors and shareholders<br />
at the Wild Duck in Ewen. He spent a day visiting<br />
the last remaining airworthy Vulcan bomber up at<br />
Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire with colleagues<br />
and also spent an amazing day at Kemble Airfield<br />
in a Bulldog aircraft experiencing aerial combat<br />
and acrobatics. <strong>John</strong> spent much of the time in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol of the aircraft and, as can be seen by the<br />
childlike grin after landing (cover picture) he<br />
thoroughly enjoyed himself. He still pops into<br />
Latt<strong>on</strong> to have a 'cuppa' and find out how things<br />
are <strong>on</strong> site.<br />
There are a number of things that give <strong>John</strong><br />
pleasure such as charity work with the Li<strong>on</strong>s Club<br />
or regularly attending Institute of Quarrying<br />
meetings, but there are three big loves of his life.<br />
One is the Vulcan Bomber which he describes as<br />
'his' plane and with which he has been obsessed<br />
for as l<strong>on</strong>g as he can remember. Another is work.<br />
<strong>John</strong> is a man who lives for working in the<br />
quarries and nothing has motivated him more<br />
6 intouch<br />
<strong>John</strong> and Ellie with Company directors and shareholders at the Wild Duck in Ewen
With <strong>on</strong>e of the three big loves of his life – the Vulcan Bomber<br />
Peter Andrew<br />
New Business<br />
Development<br />
Manager for<br />
Quarry Products<br />
Peter Andrew joined Quarry Products<br />
recently as Business Development<br />
Manager. His remit includes leading the<br />
sales functi<strong>on</strong> for aggregates and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>crete. Following Paul Dix<strong>on</strong>'s<br />
retirement in February 2008, Peter will<br />
also lead and manage c<strong>on</strong>crete<br />
operati<strong>on</strong>s. Peter will initially be based at<br />
Shorncote Quarry and report to Alan<br />
Mackenzie.<br />
Above: Getting ready for take off in the Bulldog<br />
at Kemble airport<br />
Right: Certified as a ‘Top Gun’<br />
than the challenge of sorting out breakdowns or<br />
repairs <strong>on</strong> site. “<strong>John</strong> enjoyed the involvement in<br />
planning the extracti<strong>on</strong> phases,” his manager<br />
Andrew Liddle told us, “but always leapt at the<br />
chance of jumping <strong>on</strong> a machine to either dig for<br />
England, creating traps for Keith Broadhurst to<br />
get stuck in, or to complete a secti<strong>on</strong> of<br />
restorati<strong>on</strong> as he did in Lake 3, near Latt<strong>on</strong><br />
village, where he created two small islands,<br />
which he has unofficially named Joshua and<br />
Joseph after his s<strong>on</strong>s!” However his biggest love<br />
is his family – his wife Ellie and the two boys.<br />
We at <strong>Hills</strong> would<br />
like to thank <strong>John</strong><br />
for all he has d<strong>on</strong>e<br />
for the Company<br />
for the last 31<br />
years and our<br />
thoughts are with<br />
him and his family<br />
for the times<br />
ahead.<br />
Above left: The creati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>John</strong>’s<br />
two islands, ‘Joshua’ and ‘Joseph’, in<br />
Lake 3 at Latt<strong>on</strong><br />
Left: The lake as it looks today<br />
BBC & <strong>Hills</strong><br />
Nature of Britain<br />
A recent ‘Nature of Britain’<br />
programme featuring freshwater<br />
habitats included a secti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the<br />
Costwold Waterpark and the work<br />
which <strong>Hills</strong> has undertaken in<br />
protecting the Sand Martins which<br />
nest in quarries.<br />
You can view the programme by<br />
going to the BBC website bbc.co.uk<br />
and clicking <strong>on</strong> ‘Science and Nature’<br />
and then ‘Nature of Britain’.<br />
Larkrise to Candleford<br />
The art department of the BBC<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tacted <strong>Hills</strong> to supply materials<br />
for the ten-part adaptati<strong>on</strong> of Flora<br />
Thomps<strong>on</strong>’s magical memoir of her<br />
Oxfordshire childhood, Larkrise to<br />
Candleford, which is to be screened<br />
in early 2008 <strong>on</strong> BBC One.<br />
Steve Mead, Telesales Co-ordinator,<br />
was able to source 20mm shingle<br />
from Shorncote for the driveways,<br />
chalk for the children to use <strong>on</strong> the<br />
slate boards and st<strong>on</strong>e blocks for<br />
the st<strong>on</strong>emas<strong>on</strong>s to use.<br />
intouch 7
WASTE SOLUTIONS & RECYCLING<br />
Restructure<br />
for Waste Divisi<strong>on</strong><br />
The waste divisi<strong>on</strong> is committed to achieving a reduced dependency <strong>on</strong> landfill and to<br />
seek out alternative waste soluti<strong>on</strong>s. To help achieve this aim, the divisi<strong>on</strong> was recently<br />
reorganised by functi<strong>on</strong>al operati<strong>on</strong>s linked together by operati<strong>on</strong>al relevance, as<br />
opposed to locati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
A detailed organisati<strong>on</strong> chart for the divisi<strong>on</strong> has been placed <strong>on</strong> all staff notice boards. In brief,<br />
the changes are as follows:<br />
Steve Burns assumes the<br />
role of Waste Operati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Manager and is resp<strong>on</strong>sible<br />
for landfill, waste treatment<br />
and recycling.<br />
Peter Moore, Transport<br />
Operati<strong>on</strong>s Manager, is<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for transport<br />
operati<strong>on</strong>s which includes<br />
the provisi<strong>on</strong> of and maintenance<br />
of commercial and<br />
recycling collecti<strong>on</strong><br />
vehicles.<br />
Alex Marland,<br />
Development Manager, is<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for waste<br />
'development' related<br />
activities.<br />
Steve Palmer moves to the<br />
positi<strong>on</strong> of Sales Manager<br />
reporting to Alex Marland<br />
WEEE Did It<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> and Wiltshire County Council were<br />
part of <strong>on</strong>ly 25% of Local Authorities and<br />
their Waste Management c<strong>on</strong>tractors in the<br />
UK that were fully compliant with the<br />
Waste Electr<strong>on</strong>ic and Electrical Equipment<br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong>s (WEEE) <strong>on</strong> 1st July 2007.<br />
The new regulati<strong>on</strong>s require that evidence<br />
be provided for the amount of electrical<br />
items recycled, which necessitates that<br />
electrical items are collected and disposed<br />
of separately as opposed to being recycled<br />
as scrap metal.<br />
To ensure that compliance was met, <strong>Hills</strong><br />
and Wiltshire County Council joined forces<br />
to c<strong>on</strong>sult with a number of Producer<br />
Compliance Schemes (PCS) and an<br />
agreement was signed with Electrolink, an<br />
Accredited Approved Treatment Facility<br />
(AATF), to ensure that all WEEE collected at<br />
the HRCs is recycled correctly and the<br />
t<strong>on</strong>nages counted towards the recycling<br />
targets set by the Government and Europe.<br />
Local Authorities and their waste<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tractors who have not complied with<br />
the regulati<strong>on</strong>s are liable for the cost of<br />
recycling the hazardous wastes such as<br />
TVs, fluorescent tubes and fridges, and will<br />
face acti<strong>on</strong> from the Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Agency.<br />
Recycled Wood<br />
works W<strong>on</strong>ders!<br />
The UK generates around 9 milli<strong>on</strong> t<strong>on</strong>nes of waste wood each year, of which less than 20% is<br />
currently recycled. Two new initiatives by the wood recycling facility at Lower Compt<strong>on</strong> are<br />
seeking to help redress this balance by capitalising <strong>on</strong> the growing demand for recycled products.<br />
75 litre bags of Garden Mulch, manufactured from recycled packaging wood, are now <strong>on</strong> sale for £3.00<br />
each at selected HRC sites. The trial, designed to assess c<strong>on</strong>sumer reacti<strong>on</strong> and demand, has proven<br />
successful and a sec<strong>on</strong>d batch has been bagged to maintain stocks through the autumn seas<strong>on</strong>.<br />
This easy to apply, low maintenance mulch offers the benefits of both moisture retenti<strong>on</strong> and weed<br />
suppressi<strong>on</strong>, whilst also remaining envir<strong>on</strong>mentally friendly.<br />
The sec<strong>on</strong>d exciting development was the signing of a two-year agreement with Welsh Biofuels Ltd<br />
to supply recycled woodchip for the manufacture of pelletised wood fuel which offers a viable and<br />
sustainable alternative to the rapidly diminishing supply of fossil fuels. <strong>Hills</strong> worked closely with<br />
Biofuels to meet the exacting feedstock specificati<strong>on</strong> and to ensure that<br />
deliveries commenced <strong>on</strong> schedule in September.<br />
Woodchip which is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>verted into pellets<br />
to be used as fuel<br />
Martyn Parfitt, Recycling Team Manager (left)<br />
is c<strong>on</strong>gratulated by Martin Litherland of<br />
Wiltshire County Council<br />
Calendar Competiti<strong>on</strong><br />
winner<br />
Leah Wilkins<strong>on</strong> may <strong>on</strong>ly be 8, but the pupil from Holy<br />
Trinity Primary School knows a thing or two about<br />
recycling. Her picture of people recycling their paper, glass<br />
and garden waste beat 2,500 entries from all over Wiltshire<br />
to be the overall winner of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s<br />
Waste Acti<strong>on</strong> Calendar Competiti<strong>on</strong>. The calendar is being<br />
published by the Trust with generous funding from <strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
“We believe that if you can learn how important recycling<br />
is when you are young, you’ll c<strong>on</strong>tinue to do it when you<br />
grow up. And if we’re really lucky, while you are growing up<br />
you might c<strong>on</strong>vince Mum and <strong>Da</strong>d to recycle too,” Alan<br />
Pardoe told the winners at the cerem<strong>on</strong>y where they were<br />
presented with their certificates.<br />
Alan Pardoe<br />
presents<br />
Leah<br />
Wilkins<strong>on</strong><br />
with her<br />
framed<br />
picture<br />
8 intouch
MRF Picks New Equipment<br />
Salisbury District Council’s decisi<strong>on</strong> to stop collecting paper and cardboard and<br />
replace it with a kerbside collecti<strong>on</strong> of plastic and cardboard, will result in an extra<br />
300 t<strong>on</strong>nes of cardboard and 1,000 t<strong>on</strong>nes of plastic being delivered to the MRF at<br />
Lower Compt<strong>on</strong> each year.<br />
To cope with the increased t<strong>on</strong>nages, small modificati<strong>on</strong>s were made to existing<br />
equipment and a new picking line and ‘Badger’ baler have been installed.<br />
Some facts & figures<br />
20,000 plastic bottles = 1 t<strong>on</strong>ne<br />
1st May 2007 – 31st October 2007 – The MRF sold 488 t<strong>on</strong>nes<br />
of plastic = 9,760,000 bottles<br />
The new ‘Badger’ baler<br />
installed at the MRF<br />
Weight problem solved<br />
An <strong>on</strong>going, nati<strong>on</strong>al problem with rear end loaders,<br />
where it has been virtually impossible to load <strong>on</strong>e<br />
without overloading the rear axles, appears to have<br />
been solved.<br />
Previously, heavy packing equipment situated at the<br />
rear of the vehicle added to the axle weight limits<br />
and restricted the amount of waste that could be<br />
loaded. In most cases a roadside VOSA check would<br />
have resulted in an immediate prohibiti<strong>on</strong> notice<br />
issued against the overweight vehicle.<br />
Our new Mercedes Benz Ec<strong>on</strong>ic 8 x 4/2CTT<br />
c<strong>on</strong>versi<strong>on</strong> with the odd axle c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong> has been<br />
<strong>Hills</strong>’ answer to the problem. During the early stages<br />
of loading, when the axle weights are most critical,<br />
the availability of an extra axle at the rear end<br />
spreads the load more evenly. The vehicle still<br />
operates as 32 t<strong>on</strong>nes gross, but would be difficult<br />
to overload even when compacting to its maximum<br />
capacity. It has certainly generated interest within<br />
the waste industry.<br />
Health & Safety<br />
Waste Soluti<strong>on</strong>s employees now have a platform for addressing health and safety issues by way<br />
of the Health & Safety Committee which meets <strong>on</strong>ce a m<strong>on</strong>th.<br />
Chaired by Paul Elling, Compliance Manager, and attended by operati<strong>on</strong>al volunteers from each<br />
of the secti<strong>on</strong>s within the divisi<strong>on</strong>, the meetings provide a forum for involvement,<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong>s and guidance which supplements the existing arrangements for communicating<br />
health and safety informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The volunteers act as representatives for their operati<strong>on</strong>al colleagues, bringing forward their<br />
comments and c<strong>on</strong>cerns. Minutes from these meetings are then displayed <strong>on</strong> staff notice boards<br />
at Waste Soluti<strong>on</strong>s’ sites.<br />
Our new REL that beats the ‘weight’ problem<br />
Committee members (left to right) Tyr<strong>on</strong>e Shadwell, Machine Driver,<br />
Les Gibbs, Kerbside Loader, Martin Smith, LGV Driver, Andy Ody, LGV<br />
Driver, Melanie Beswick, HRC Site Supervisor, Julie James, Secretary<br />
& Office Administrator, Paul Elling, Compliance Manager.<br />
Inset:<br />
Left: Neil Luce, LGV Driver<br />
Right: Brian Fitzpatrick, Assistant<br />
Waste Facilities Manager<br />
Malta – ultimate 're-use' champi<strong>on</strong>s!<br />
Foden Haulmaster in the 1980’s<br />
The same truck in Malta earlier this year<br />
We were recently c<strong>on</strong>tacted by Tim Byrne, a waste<br />
and recycling transport enthusiast from the Midlands.<br />
Tim told us that <strong>on</strong>e of his many European enthusiast<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tacts had identified <strong>on</strong>e of our old Rear End Loader<br />
(REL) lorries still in service in Malta! The vehicle in<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> was the Foden Haulmaster that <str<strong>on</strong>g>feature</str<strong>on</strong>g>d in<br />
our centenary brochure as pictured far left in service<br />
for us in the 1980s. You can also see it as it is today in<br />
an attractive blue colour! Although shiny, smart-looking<br />
trucks are obviously not high <strong>on</strong> the Maltese agenda,<br />
you have to admire how they take the term 'recycle<br />
and re-use' to the limit, as this vehicle left our service<br />
nearly 20 years ago!! Unbelievable!!<br />
intouch 9
PEOPLE NEWS<br />
Farewell Gord<strong>on</strong><br />
In September we bid a f<strong>on</strong>d farewell to Gord<strong>on</strong> Strange who retired after 27 years’ service.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> was based at Chapel Farm where he operated at least four different landfill<br />
compactors and became an expert in the ‘fine art’ of waste compacti<strong>on</strong>. He was a reliable<br />
and valued stalwart of the Chapel Farm team and his experience and c<strong>on</strong>vivial nature will<br />
be missed. We wish you well <strong>on</strong> your retirement.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> and wife Lorraine take it easy<br />
<strong>on</strong> the sofa that he received as a<br />
retirement gift from the Company<br />
L<strong>on</strong>g Service<br />
There are many employees who have worked for the Company for<br />
a c<strong>on</strong>siderable period of time and we would like to acknowledge<br />
those who have reached significant milest<strong>on</strong>es in the year 2007.<br />
These milest<strong>on</strong>es start at 10 years’ service and go <strong>on</strong> to include<br />
service for every five years thereafter. C<strong>on</strong>gratulati<strong>on</strong>s to:<br />
10 years’ service<br />
Graham Vanst<strong>on</strong>e, Project<br />
Manager<br />
Rob McGready, Quarry Manager<br />
Derek Woodward, Plant Operative<br />
Anth<strong>on</strong>y Brown, Bricklayer<br />
Michael Pitts, LGV Driver<br />
Albert Shorter, P/T Recycling<br />
Operative<br />
Alan McLellan, LGV Driver<br />
<strong>John</strong> Chapman, MRF Foreman<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>, Lorraine and grands<strong>on</strong> (middle) with colleagues from Chapel Farm (from<br />
left) Bob Tapp, Operati<strong>on</strong>s Support Manager, Terry Hill, Plant Operative, Kate<br />
Goss, Site Technician, Sim<strong>on</strong> Skerten, Falc<strong>on</strong>er, Colin Rouse, Foreman, Phil Wils<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Plant Operative and Chris Eels, Site Manager<br />
15 years’ service<br />
Mick Chivers, Assistant Quarry<br />
Manager<br />
Ray Coram, Transport Supervisor<br />
Bob Tapp, Operati<strong>on</strong>s Support<br />
Manager<br />
20 years’ service<br />
Mike Webster, Divisi<strong>on</strong>al MD,<br />
Waste Soluti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Bill Wills, Metal Fabricator<br />
Discovering Fossils<br />
25 years’ service<br />
Paul Dix<strong>on</strong> – Divisi<strong>on</strong>al MD –<br />
C<strong>on</strong>crete<br />
Mike Webster<br />
– Divisi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
MD, Waste<br />
Soluti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
celebrates 20<br />
years’ service<br />
30 years’ service<br />
Stewart Waters<strong>on</strong>, Foreman /<br />
Weighbridgeman<br />
40 years’ service<br />
Marc Eltham, Sales Representative<br />
The quarries at Shorncote and Latt<strong>on</strong> afford Palae<strong>on</strong>tologists with an unique opportunity to see<br />
rocks that are rarely exposed inland and a recent field trip, organised by Roy Shepherd, who runs a<br />
web based organisati<strong>on</strong> known as Discovering Fossils, attracted well over 100 enthusiastic fossil<br />
collectors from all over the country. The first half of the day was devoted to Shorncote where the<br />
Cornbrash Limest<strong>on</strong>e is about 165 milli<strong>on</strong> years old and some spectacular finds were made such as<br />
sea urchins and amm<strong>on</strong>ites (a distant relative of the modern day squid and octopus), fossil sea<br />
shells and sharks teeth. Participants <strong>on</strong> the day were fascinated to learn that the Jurassic sea floor<br />
exposed in the rocks at Shorncote was <strong>on</strong>ce laid down in a tropical marine setting, not too unlike<br />
the Caribbean today!<br />
The afterno<strong>on</strong> at Latt<strong>on</strong> Quarry provided an opportunity to investigate the Jurassic Oxford Clay and<br />
much younger Ice Age gravels. Large numbers of amm<strong>on</strong>ites were found, some preserving their<br />
original mother of pearl shells, fossil wood and even the teeth of a marine reptile known as a<br />
Plesiosaur were unearthed.<br />
The Ice age gravel also gave up it’s secrets including the discovery of a well preserved mammoth<br />
tooth am<strong>on</strong>gst other Ice Age relics. Dr Neville Hollingworth, who guided the group <strong>on</strong> the day, was<br />
amazed at the number of finds made and commented, “what attracts such enthusiasm is that the<br />
science of Palae<strong>on</strong>tology appeals to people of all ages. It is the thrill of making a discovery new to<br />
science, the opportunity to learn about past envir<strong>on</strong>ments and the history of Life <strong>on</strong> the planet.”<br />
You can visit the Discovering Fossils’ website at www.discoveringfossils.co.uk<br />
New Employees<br />
A warm <strong>Hills</strong> welcome to the following<br />
employees who joined the Company<br />
between 1 Aug 2007 & 31 Oct 2007.<br />
Ian Hall, Plant Operative<br />
Mark Fletcher, Site Manager<br />
Pamela Hunt, Recruitment Co-ordinator<br />
Andrew Rimmer, Kerbside Loader<br />
Richard Steer, Plant Manager<br />
Shaun Higgins<strong>on</strong>, Kerbside Loader<br />
Lynette Hemming, Senior Accounts Clerk<br />
Graeme Bushby, LGV Driver<br />
Ralph Hanraads, Site Technician<br />
Jas<strong>on</strong> Turner, LGV Driver<br />
Peter Dodsworth, Waste Picker<br />
Paul Weinling, Kerbside Loader<br />
Neil Taylor, Kerbside Loader<br />
T<strong>on</strong>y Seager, LGV Driver<br />
Gary Kelly, Transport Shipper<br />
Robert Stevens, Plant Operative<br />
Jacqueline Wilkins<strong>on</strong>, Assistant Payroll<br />
Officer<br />
Christopher C<strong>on</strong>stable, LGV Driver<br />
Colin Stocking, LGV Driver<br />
R<strong>on</strong>ald Pendry, PT Yardpers<strong>on</strong>/Sorter<br />
Anth<strong>on</strong>y Stepp, Driver’s Mate<br />
Sim<strong>on</strong> Notman, Kerbside Loader<br />
Wayne Goodman, Site Labourer<br />
Clifford <strong>Da</strong>vis, LGV Driver<br />
Martin Gibb, LGV Driver<br />
<strong>Da</strong>rren Batchelor, Team Leader<br />
Robert Burns, Recycling Operative<br />
Karol Baczewski, Recycling Operative<br />
Martin Hawes, Recycling Operative<br />
<strong>Da</strong>rren Hallam, Recycling Operative<br />
Stephen Fuller, Team Leader<br />
Rajesab Torgal, Recycling Operative<br />
Martin Cremin, Recycling Operative<br />
Jas<strong>on</strong> LeFeuvre, Recycling Operative<br />
Garth Large, Recycling Operative<br />
Michael Proffitt, Team Leader<br />
Colin Chrystie, Recycling Operative<br />
Lawrence Belcher, Recycling Operative<br />
Kenneth Mulenga, Team Leader<br />
Christopher Shepherd, Recycling Operative<br />
Thomas Kyeremeh, Recycling Operative<br />
Wilfred Denley, Recycling Operative<br />
Alan Gort<strong>on</strong>, Recycling Operative<br />
Right:<br />
A budding<br />
palae<strong>on</strong>tologist<br />
with his 165 milli<strong>on</strong><br />
year old amm<strong>on</strong>ite<br />
found at Shorncote.<br />
Below:<br />
Fossils galore!<br />
10 intouch
Girl Power!<br />
We are pleased to announce that Adele Clark who previously<br />
worked as an Office Administrator at Lower Compt<strong>on</strong>, has<br />
been appointed as a Recycling Collecti<strong>on</strong> Supervisor for the<br />
Kerbside collecti<strong>on</strong> service.<br />
Adele Clark with Recycling Collecti<strong>on</strong> Supervisor<br />
colleagues (left) Ken Webb and Adrian Homes (right)<br />
We’re in the Pink!<br />
The annual ‘Wear it Pink’ day saw a total of £184.90 raised by staff and with the Company<br />
kindly agreeing to match the c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>, we raised an amazing £369.80 for the Breast<br />
Cancer Campaign.<br />
Thank you so much to all of you who took the time and trouble to be part of the fundraising<br />
and as the pictures below show – it can be a lot of fun too! Special menti<strong>on</strong> of thanks to all<br />
the staff at County Park who<br />
raised the most m<strong>on</strong>ey (£70.00)<br />
and held a cake sale to boost the<br />
coffers - the number for Weight<br />
Watchers appears <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>page</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13!<br />
Tickled pink at head office<br />
Above: County Park decide to ‘dress-up’ (from<br />
left) Jane Par<strong>on</strong>s-Hann, Alex Marland, Peter<br />
Moore, Delia Tucker, Julie James, Paul Elling,<br />
Mike Webster and Geraldine Frost<br />
Trooper Curtis<br />
A normal days’ work for Alan Curtis would<br />
usually mean driving an LGV for <strong>Hills</strong> at<br />
Lower Compt<strong>on</strong>, but at the moment he is<br />
<strong>on</strong> operati<strong>on</strong>al duty with the Army in<br />
Afghanistan. Trooper Curtis is in Sal<strong>on</strong>ika<br />
Company <strong>on</strong> Op Herrick 7 and due back in<br />
May 2008. Take care, Alan!<br />
New arrival<br />
C<strong>on</strong>gratulati<strong>on</strong>s to Kelly and<br />
Jim White, LGV Driver, a<br />
daughter, Harm<strong>on</strong>y,<br />
born <strong>on</strong> 19th<br />
September.<br />
Have bag... will travel<br />
Not <strong>on</strong>ly is the <strong>Hills</strong>’ foldable, reusable bag great for getting<br />
your grocery shopping home, it also appears to be the next<br />
‘must have’ item to accompany you <strong>on</strong> your travels!<br />
…and closer to home in Swind<strong>on</strong>,<br />
with Richard B<strong>on</strong>d, Key Accounts<br />
Manager at the recent Swind<strong>on</strong><br />
Half Marath<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Pictures received from various staff members show that the bag<br />
has a taste for some serious globe-trotting. We w<strong>on</strong>der where<br />
it will get to next?<br />
On a sunkissed beach, under the<br />
palm trees in Fiji with Emma and<br />
Martyn Parfitt, Recycling Team<br />
Manager<br />
In Los Angeles California, where it was attracted by<br />
the bright lights of Hollywood, the hunks <strong>on</strong> Muscle<br />
Beach and almost arrested by the LAPD – with<br />
Amanda Bert<strong>on</strong>i, Human Resources Assistant<br />
intouch 11
PEOPLE<br />
NEWS<br />
Staff<br />
Achievements<br />
Well d<strong>on</strong>e to the following staff who<br />
have achieved various recogniti<strong>on</strong>s of<br />
competency during the past few m<strong>on</strong>ths.<br />
Brian Waym<strong>on</strong>t,<br />
Depot Manager<br />
- NVQ Level 4<br />
COTC for<br />
Treatment of<br />
Hazardous<br />
Waste<br />
Jacqueline<br />
Hibbert,<br />
Workshop<br />
Administrator -<br />
First Aid at<br />
Work<br />
Certificate<br />
from St <strong>John</strong>’s<br />
Ambulance<br />
Keep <strong>on</strong> running…<br />
An excellent effort by three <strong>Hills</strong> staff saw them complete the Swind<strong>on</strong><br />
Half Marath<strong>on</strong> in less than two hours.<br />
First home was Gary Kelly, Transport Shipper, with a time of 1hr 43min,<br />
followed by Richard B<strong>on</strong>d, Key Accounts Manager, in 1hr 49min 01sec<br />
and Rob Laird, Management<br />
Accountant, at 1hr 59min 30sec.<br />
Well d<strong>on</strong>e to all of you and<br />
e<str<strong>on</strong>g>special</str<strong>on</strong>g>ly Rob, who said that “it<br />
was a super-human effort, as I<br />
had a bad cold at the time.”<br />
Garry Kelly<br />
All that Jazz<br />
Rob Laird<br />
Richard B<strong>on</strong>d<br />
<strong>Hills</strong> recently sp<strong>on</strong>sored a gala evening of jazz which <str<strong>on</strong>g>feature</str<strong>on</strong>g>d 77 year old jazz legend Kenny Ball and<br />
his Jazzmen and Pete Allen’s Jazz Band. The event, held at the Memorial Hall at Marlborough College,<br />
was in support of Marlborough’s Riverbank Theatre project and was a sell-out. A fun and memorable<br />
evening was had by all!<br />
?<br />
Bill Wills, Metal<br />
Fabricator –<br />
NVQ Level 2 -<br />
Welding<br />
Above: Robert Hill and Pete Allen<br />
meet up after the performance<br />
12 intouch<br />
Roger<br />
Shearman,<br />
Transport<br />
Co-ordinator,<br />
Certificate of<br />
Professi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Competence<br />
in Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Haulage<br />
Andy Ody (left)<br />
and Neil Luce,<br />
both LGV Drivers<br />
– Health &<br />
Safety and Risk<br />
Assessment<br />
Certificates<br />
J<strong>on</strong> Bucksey,<br />
Divisi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Accountant –<br />
accepted as<br />
a Member of<br />
the Chartered<br />
Institute of<br />
Management<br />
Accountants<br />
(CIMA)<br />
Wedding Belle<br />
C<strong>on</strong>gratulati<strong>on</strong>s to <strong>Da</strong>n and Pamela Hunt ,<br />
Recruitment Co-ordinator, who were married<br />
<strong>on</strong> 8th September at Wellingt<strong>on</strong> Barn, Calst<strong>on</strong>.<br />
They spent their h<strong>on</strong>eymo<strong>on</strong> in Gran Canaria.<br />
Left: Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen<br />
in acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the night<br />
Viking brought<br />
back to life<br />
Nathan Carr, Depot Manager, rescued this Viking<br />
after it was thrown out of his <strong>Da</strong>d’s garden shed<br />
and destined for ‘the tip’. Lovingly restored by<br />
Paul Hinks, Recycling Sorter / Supervisor, the<br />
rejuvenated Viking now has pride of place <strong>on</strong><br />
top of Paul’s Manitou which works in and around<br />
the MRF feeding the lines and loading lorries.<br />
Designed by The Lines <strong>Group</strong>, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 244830