Keith Knight announces conference coup
20th May 2005
Keith Knight of the Dean Knight Partnership expressed his delight after hearing that Bill Bryson has accepted his invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) conference in York in July.
Bill Bryson is a successful author and journalist, best known for his travel writing. His work includes the notable bestsellers Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods and his latest epic A Short History of Nearly Everything. He lived with his family in North Yorkshire before moving back to America in 1995. In June 2003 he returned to the UK permanently and in 2004 he joined the English Heritage Advisory Committee.
A major theme of the conference is what can be done to make areas and places more pleasant places to live and work in. Bill said, “I am particularly concerned about the look of towns and townscapes. I think a lot more could be done to promote conservation areas, reduce clutter on streets and promote more enlightened redevelopment of shop frontages by retailers (including many national retailers) and other commercial interests as well as private householders.”
Keith Knight was invited by the IHBC to organise their national conference following the successful “Restoration Yorkshire” conferences he organised in 2003 and 2004.
Keith explained, “The conference is the highlight of the conservation calendar. As well as top speakers from the world of conservation there will be displays of products used in the restoration industry.
The three day conference starts in the afternoon of 7th July and will run until Sunday 10th July. There will be a buffet reception on the Thursday evening in York’s medieval Hospitium, hosted by the Lord Mayor, and a gala Dinner on Friday at the historic Merchant Taylor’s Hall. Accommodation for delegates is to be at the University of York and the lectures at the Tempest Anderson Hall in Museum Gardens.