40 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 2011 Yearbook, which will look at what shapes skills, and how they should be developed and supported. As ever, guest authors will provide wide-ranging perspectives and complementary reviews of the IHBC’s own work in this area. The Yearbook is circulated to some 5,000 players across the industry, so it is one of our most valuable tools for sector advocacy. If you are not among the fortunate few to be asked to contribute, you can reach its unique audience through advertising there. Practical education is a primary concern for us. Our November conference in Glasgow, on local and global funding strategies in heritage projects, will provide a splendid example of how we continue to promote partnerships that celebrate both our dynamism and your profession. Following plans developed in our Annual Schools, we have secured supportive endorsements from across our hugely diverse sector. From national heritage agencies (English Heritage, Cadw and Historic Scotland) to builders (CIOB), planners (the Planning Officers’ Society) and communities (Civic Voice), as well as other old friends (ICOMOS), the supporters of the Glasgow conference echo the span of the sectors and areas we must work with, inform and influence. See our website for details. Alongside these new developments, which signal the ambition of our forward plan, we are maintaining and improving existing services. These are our NewsBlogs, which include the splendid new ‘NewsBlog archive’ linked from our home page, a resource set to be an essential tool for members and beyond; our consultations (including contributions to the Penfold Review and the new Historic Environment Bill in Scotland); social networking (we now have a Linkedin site to add to the Facebook and Twitter); sector analysis (the local authority research mentioned above as well as funded guidance on the improvement of building information in England’s historic environment records); our private sector promotional scheme, HESPR, now at 20 members and growing; and, not least, developments in our disciplinary operations. I will elaborate on many of these in the next issue. In the interim, I think we can confidently say that, given that our core operations centre on only two formal employees, our response to the state of sector could not be more substantial. Seán O’Reilly, director@ihbc.org.uk At the Ihbc Fringe School The 2010 Gus Astley Award The Annual IHBC Gus Astley Student Award is presented in memory of the IHBC’s former membership secretary, and supported by the IHBC and the Gus Astley Memorial Fund. The award is presented for an outstanding item of taught coursework accepted as part of either undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Subjects relate to one or more aspects of historic environment conservation, including its evaluation, management or implementation. Five papers were presented at the IHBC Fringe School to an attentive audience in the Art Workers Guild. IHBC president Eddie Booth presented the award at a ceremony that evening in the Building Centre to Emma Speers, a student on the Edinburgh College of Art (Edinburgh University) postgraduate conservation course. Speers’ subject was An Assessment of Energy in TraditionalVernacular Buildings in Northern Ireland: comparisons of embodied energy in traditional vernacular buildings versus new-build construction. The paper provided a well-illustrated account of energy use in traditional buildings, their deficiencies and the opportunities for improvement. Embodied energy was clearly explained, providing a compelling case for continuing the use of existing buildings and, at the very least, the re-use of their materials. Other papers presented were by Zoe Kemp of Leeds Metropolitan University on Conservation-led Regeneration: friend or foe to theVictorian terrace?; KateWalker of Ironbridge Institute, University of Birmingham, on Conservation Management Plan: Enson Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent; Laura Barr and Shona Black of the University of Edinburgh on Modelling Neoclassical Stonework: securing our heritage; and Alexandra Reddaway of the University of Edinburgh on Space Structures and Historic Buildings: an engineer’s approach (GASA 2009 Commendation). The awards were assessed by Roger Bowdler, head of designation at English Heritage. ‘It was a pleasure to read the dissertations, which showed great commitment and thought,’ he said. ‘Overall, the standards were very high. Students were clearly motivated by their chosen subject, and showed great skill in interrogating web sources and producing clear arguments. ‘On the basis of this year’s submissions, the conservation profession can look forward to reinforcement from a promising new wave of professionals, eager to deploy their emerging skills. What marked out the winner was Emma Speers’ fluency in discussing perhaps the most pressing topic for all of us – the sustainability arguments and the need to make better use of our inherited building stock. Timely, eloquent and clearly argued, this exceptional dissertation deserves wider circulation. ‘A special mention should also be made of KateWalker’s conservation management plan for a potteries site in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. This was a very professional example of the genre. It was marked by deeply felt appreciation of the special interest of this decaying block. Hearts as well as minds are needed in the cause of championing special places.’ Commendations went to Zoe Kemp, Alexandra Reddaway and Georgie Hayes (University of Edinburgh), the last for her paper on The investigation into the importance of heritage and the ability to reinvent and enhance a historic site sympathetically with modern architecture and engineering methods. The 2010 award closed for submissions in July: another excellent crop is now being assessed. The winner will be announced at the Annual School in Llandudno in 2011. Eddie Booth presents the award to Emma Speers.
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