THING OF THE WEEK
A NOD TO DODD…Two murals of comedian Ken Dodd have been unveiled at the Royal Court Theatre on Roe Street in Liverpool. Artist Paul Curtis was commissioned by The Comedy Trust to produce the artwork, adding to the growing collection of Doddy tributes in the city that also include a statue at Lime Street, a bust at Picton Reading Room at Liverpool Central Library, and a painting in New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion. Doddy would be tickled pink.
CHAPEAUX… Simon Branson, partner at architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios was one of the vast peloton of property cyclists due to be on the way to Cannes this week but who were instead stuck at home on two feet instead of racing through the French countryside on two wheels. “I haven’t worn it yet!” was his slightly melancholy cry on being congratulated for sporting the outfit of the evening at the Place Alternative MIPIM Drinks on Wednesday evening. Thanks for bringing the Lycra, Simon, your loss was our gain.
Neil, left, and Martyn in their Clancy Consulting official gear
ON YER BIKE… Also not one to let a cancellation stop their cycling adventures, Clancy Consulting managed to feel the burn of a 1,500km bike ride from the sandy shores of, not Cannes, but its own office. Chief executive Martyn Headley from the company’s Manchester office, and director Neil Orrock from the Prestwick Office in Scotland, were supposed to take part in a six-day bike ride from London to Cannes for charity, but when MIPIM was postponed, 200 Clancy staff took up the mantle and have been pedalling away on exercise bikes from 3 March until today to raise money for charity. They might have missed out on beauty of the French countryside but, on the bright side, not a puncture in sight!
Credit: Cumbria Wildlife Trust
WET ‘N’ WILD…The weather in 2020 can best be described as “rowdy”, and some have felt its force more than others. In order to combat floods, volunteers in Kendal have come together to build natural flood defences at Birds Park as part of research into how to best slow floodwater. These hydro-hedges are being made out of living willow and have the potential to hold back up to 5,000 cubic metres of water, and release it slowly over time. Take that, weather!
OFFAL JOURNEY…An early morning meeting in Blackpool for Cratus’s Sean Anstee led him to take the difficult, yet sensible, decision to drag himself away from Fazenda in Liverpool, where he was enjoying a procession of sizzling chicken hearts with colleagues and associates, and on to a train. To his dismay, however, the former leader of Trafford Council found himself on a train that refused to budge and ended up forking out a three-figure sum to take an Uber back to the Vegas of the North. Summing up the experience he said: “Fazenda, great. Liverpool to Blackpool, not so great.” We feel you, Sean.
CARD WARS…Often, networking events can feel a little bit like the film American Psycho, during which the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, tries to outdo his rivals in the business card stakes. A fan of the film, THING has become something of a connoisseur in this regard, casting a judgemental eye over the business cards of our industry friends. The award for best business card at Place North West’s Alternative MIPIM drinks went to Preston-based architect Rockhunter, whose sturdy, simplistic offering, complete with debossed lettering, stole the show.
