21 July 2016

Dave Myers of Hairy Biker’s fame has swopped his chef’s knives and pans for a hi-vis vest and hard hat and at 18:30 each weeknight on BBC2 between now and the end of July, his latest programme Hairy Builder’s goes to air and seeks to unlock the historical secrets contained in some of Britain’s oldest, most prestigious and architecturally complex large buildings.

Over recent months Dave has had unique access to a team of specialist historical builders from main contractor William Anelay Ltd, Britain’s oldest masonry company, and joined them on projects as an apprentice to peel back the layers of some of Britain’s oldest, most prestigious and architecturally complex stately homes, cathedrals and listed buildings, in a quest to investigate the dramas and secrets hidden inside their architectural DNA plus learn incidental background to the development and life of each building.

Quartzelec has also played a part, having been involved over recent months in delivered major M&E contracts as a key contractor to William Anelay on a couple of the 15 projects he visited. These comprise:

Wiltons Music Hall (Episode 5 - aired Friday 15th July)

The only surviving Grand Music Hall in the world, Wilton’s was a multi-million pound internal and external refurbishment programme coordinated by William Anelay Limited, with Quartzelec delivering the £580k M&E element of the contract. Extensive M&E aspects included stripping out the existing installations and replacing the mains distribution plus general and emergency lighting installations, a containment system and both small power and mechanical power solutions. Other ‘modernising’ aspects comprised: installing a wireless fire alarm system, intruder alarms, integrated CCTV and disabled toilet alarms; plus a data/communications installation that meets today’s requirements and includes video, intercom and audio systems with all the necessary wiring and outlets.  Quartzelec also implemented the LTHW heating and the cooling systems; hot and cold water and the necessary sanitary ware; gas and utilities provision; ventilation; plus above ground drainage. 

Friars Mill, Leicester (Episode 15 - airing Friday 29^th July)  

This £685,000 contract is still ongoing and is extremely electrically biased including internal and external lighting installation and controls, fire alarm, CCTV, intruder alarm, and access control systems plus small power and structured cable installation. Mechanical works included heating and ventilation systems, above ground drainage, hot and cold water services, the supply and installation of sanitary ware, along with the provision of other external services.

Other William Anelay projects in this series include: Bradford City Hall, Ep6; Lambeth Palace, Ep7; Pontefract Castle, Ep10; Roker Lighthouse Sunderland, Ep11; and Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire, Ep14.  Commenting on the series Dave Myers said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn some new hands-on skills and unravel the mysteries of some of the greatest buildings in the country’s heritage. I am very excited and proud to be part of it.”  

Each of the conservation projects were at different stages of completion when Dave visited them, but at each he learnt skills with the builders on site and consulted with local experts to expose secret stories that even the professional tour guides didn’t know about. He also went a step further by investigating the myriad of stories connected to these amazing buildings: the landscape and local geography, the people who built, lived and worked in them and what they did.  Well worth a watch and see if you can spot any of the Quartzelec engineers as they go about their tasks!