News & Events
MP Robert Jackson re-opens the Library at Harwell
14 July 2004
On Friday 9 July Robert Jackson, Member of Parliament for Wantage, re-opened the Library at the Harwell International Business Centre. The opening was hosted by RWE NUKEM, who have made a ten year commitment to lease the first floor of the building.
The Library Building has been refurbished by Deeley Properties and marks another significant step for UKAEA in their site restoration programme.
The reception was held in a marquee. Guests included Terry Fraser, the Chairman of the Vale of the White Horse District Council and his wife Isabella; members of the Council; Alison Rooke, the Deputy Mayor of Abingdon; Colin Daukes the Deputy Mayor of Didcot; representatives of the local parish councils of Chilton, West Hagbourne, Milton Heights & Rowstock, Blewbury and East Hendred; the Oxfordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes and representatives of both the Wantage and Didcot Chambers of Commerce as well as several local residents.
Clients and colleagues of RWE NUKEM were also present from a range of organisations including the DTi, UKAEA, CCLRC, AWE and AEA Technology.
During his welcome speech, RWE NUKEM’s Engineering Director, Mike Brewin talked about the search for new office accommodation. “When I was first taken round the building I thought it had great potential and really suited us, especially as it is only a stone’s throw from our previous offices. Deeley Properties have done a fantastic job in sympathetically modifying the interior, and we are delighted to be here.”
Mike added: “The Library will be home to nearly 100 of our staff here at Harwell and provides excellent facilities. It will also allow us to expand our activities in the engineering and consulting fields within nuclear and related industries.”
RWE NUKEM is part of the international RWE NUKEM Group, owned by German based RWE AG. Sister companies include RWE Thames Water and RWE Innogy, which of course includes the local power station at Didcot. On pointing this out, Mike said “…of course, if there is no water for the tea at the reception or no electricity to heat it, we only have ourselves to blame!”
UKAEA’s Public Relations Manager Nick Hance, MBE with over 40 years experience at Harwell was able to put the library into its historical context with a fascinating talk about the various activities that have taken place on the site over the last hundred years; from breeding race horses to experiments for breeder reactors!
Nick also emphasised the exciting progress that was being made on the Campus such as the Diamond Project. The prospect of this continuing is very promising and should ensure Harwell once again becomes one of Europe’s most significant centres for science and technology.
Robert Jackson gave an entertaining speech and demonstrated his intimate knowledge of the Harwell site and its growth. He acknowledged that many changes had taken place over the last 20 or so years and in particular the decline in the nuclear research and inevitable difficulties that this must have brought. However he recognised how well the site had coped with the transition to more commercial enterprises and expressed his delight at the positive approach that was being taken in providing more opportunities for employment on the Harwell Campus
Mr Jackson unveiled a stunning granite plaque reflecting the transformation of the disused library into contemporary open plan office space, whilst retaining the original 1950s styling.
For Deeley Properties the refurbished accommodation in the Library is the completion of the first phase of a £15 million property development at the Harwell International Business Centre and they have now started construction work on several new state of the art buildings alongside the Library.