uFrom page 61. In the 1950s alan had served as an army
Officer in Malaya but arrived in 1961 at the Bletchley office of agricultural surveyors Ws Johnson & Co to run the cattle market auctions. Bletchley was growing through overspill housing from London but not on the scale of what was to come once Milton Keynes Development Corporation began to acquire 25,000 acres of North Bucks countryside. Ws Johnson acted for the landowners and tenants. Then Bletchley cattle market, now the site of the Brunel shopping Centre, was sold for development. “Ws Johnson changed,” alan recalls. “The new
city was really coming out of the ground and we became more focused on commercial and industrial development.” The firm moved its auction activity to fine art
and antiques and alan took under his wing an aspiring young auctioneer, Charlie ross. “Charlie came to me as an apprentice in the 1980s,” says alan. “I remember taking him to a mock auction competition in reading for budding auctioneers, which he won. They each had to sell one lot - his was to sell a cricket bat. It was the first thing he ever sold.” Ws Johnson already had a
saleroom in Buckingham but alan and Charlie set up a new business, holding their first sale at Linford Manor, before moving to Woburn as Downer ross. Today ross is one of the world’s most
charismatic auctioneers. He has auctioned some of the world’s most coveted antiques and memorabilia items and appears on TV programmes including the BBC’s antiques road Trip and Bargain Hunt. “I’d like to say I am proud of being the one who set him on his way but that would flatter him too much,” laughs alan. “I’m pleased that he has been so successful - he always enjoyed acting, singing and larking about but his principal love has always been antiques and auctions.” alan and allen Duff, who had left his position as
‘They turned away companies that were not creating jobs’
in what is now thecentre:mk. “The intention was always to have a mix of operators and private shop keepers. In the early days they got that mix but that has gone now. It is a pity because the shopping centre has lost its individuality.” Downer and Duff parted company in the late
1980s when the commercial property market collapsed in the wider financial crash. at that time he was asked by Milton Keynes MP Bill Benyon to chair the fundraising committee for the equipping of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone. “There was a lot to go into the church; an
organ, seats and so on. We aimed to raise the money by means of donations for anything from a brick or a chair to the organ.” Two years later, the church was complete. “It
Alan Downer. Inset: Auctioneer Charlie Ross. commercial director of Milton Keynes Development Corporation in
1983, created the Downer Duff practice which became a leader in the Milton Keynes commercial property market. He believes that the planners struck the right balance between factories and houses, although the need to create employment drove the occupation of the new factory and warehouse units. “In the early days they turned away companies
who wanted to do distribution because it was not generating employment. Milton Keynes really wanted industry that employed a lot of people.” With developments such as Magna Park, that priority has changed, as has the retail demographic
was a great occasion when they put the dome on top of the church,” alan recalls. “The structure of the church was built but the dome had to be transferred here and lowered by crane. We were all on edge, hoping it would fit. Thankfully, it did.” after 12 years as director of Chesterton plc’s
Milton Keynes office, alan now works with chartered surveyors aitchison raffety. His pride in Milton Keynes is obvious but the next phase of expansion is a challenge. “The city can only expand outwards,” he says. “The original designated area was for some 23,000 acres and it was said then that it would never extend beyond this area but they have not been able to stop it. “It would be a shame if surrounding areas were
developed because there is still some lovely open countryside. They should maintain it as much as possible. Once they move outside the city, they are touching different authority areas which can be a buffer to development. The problem is going to be containing it.” alan is very much a ‘glass half full’ man. “It’s usually whisky,” he smiles.
Working with us means you are in touch with the world
STEPHEN EAMES Milton Keynes Office Managing Partner, Mazars
Mazars’ relationship with Milton Keynes stretches back to the new town’s origins in January 1967. as it has grown, so has Mazars’ presence and profile. Our Milton Keynes office is Mazars’ largest UK operation outside of London and many of our staff, both regionally and nationally, live in the Milton Keynes area, reinforcing our historical ties with the town. six years ago, driven by our
growth, we moved from sovereign Court to our present base in The Pinnacle in Midsummer Boulevard.
Growth across the UK and globally over the last three years has increased Mazars’ profile further and we are pleased to see the firm continually recognised as an important player in the Milton Keynes professional market place. In the UK, Mazars has more than
1,800 partners and employees serving clients from 19 offices and is ranked one of the top ten firms nationally. as Milton Keynes has grown from a population of around 40,000 in 1967 to more than 250,000 today, so we have grown within the local business and corporate market, supporting our clients who range from individuals and local businesses to large corporates and global organisations. Mazars has a policy of recruiting
and developing local talent whenever we can. This year, we have
recruited more than 170 trainees across the UK, with 20 dedicated to working in Milton Keynes. I am incredibly proud of my 200- plus colleagues who are Mazars Milton Keynes for the contribution they make to the firm’s national success and growth but also for their teamwork and support for the wider Milton Keynes community. Every month groups are involved in charitable or fundraising projects, which is a priority for our business. Mazars is not only a top ten UK audit and accounting firm; it is also one of Europe’s largest and we recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of our international integrated partnership, a model giving seamless access to the 77 countries in which we operate and our 17,000 professionals worldwide. In the UK, we have just won the
To find out how we can work together to help you to grow your business, contact Stephen Eames at
stephen.eames@mazars.co.uk 01908 257127 07734 607490
62 Business
British accountancy awards Top 50 Tax Team of the Year and our Financial Planning team have won gold for the 6th year running at Incisive Media's 2016 Gold standard awards. Working with Mazars means that Milton Keynes is in touch with the world. We have the capability and technical expertise to provide our clients with access to markets worldwide. Our team has one goal: to focus on our clients’ agendas and deliver valued solutions through a personal touch backed by reliable experience. We are pleased to have played a
part in both the history and growth of Milton Keynes and wish our neighbours in the region a Happy 50th anniversary.
www.mazars.co.uk
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