Discovered in a Box of Baubles - 6th January 2021

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's the last day of the challenge, and the first time I've posted on this day of the calendar. I've got something I'm hoping to finish (and something that I didn't finish at all - waah), but those will be for later, and in the meantime I'm going to have a rummage around in the box today and see if I can find a few more baubles to post, and pretty-up our flists... *g*

I started off with a quick rummage around the British Newspaper Archive, where I found this, from the Reading Evening Post on Wednesday 07 October 1981. It's a new picture to me too, though I've seen him in similar poses in pics - how fun to still be able to find new things about our lads *g*. Transcription under the pic, because they're not the clearest of images.
"Television tough guy Martin Shaw added the professional touch when he unveiled a group of new flats yesterday.
And the heart-throb actor, star of The Professionals series, showed he is just as at home with a whisk as he is with a gun.
"I'm playing the host today," he said as he invited visitors to look round the new flats for single people on the New Park development at Tadley.
They have been designed by Wimpey Homes Holdings Limited and to make sure they had the right image they asked Martin to choose the furniture and fittings.
The bedsitter flats are fully furnished and the first eight put on sale for £16,985 were sold within 48 hours. It is hoped about 1000 will be on the market throughout England by the middle of next year.
Mr Donald Macpherson, chairman of Wimpey Homes Holdings Ltd said at the opening he hoped the new flats would solve the problems facing so many single people who wanted to buy their own homes.
He added "The decor and furnishing have been personally, and dare I say it, professionally chosen by Martin Shaw to help create the feel of carefree modern living."

Wow - can you imagine having bought the flat decorated by our Doyle (yes, I know, our MS - but I did say imagine *g*)?! I had a quick google to see if I could find out whethere the flats were still there (bet they're worth a bit more than £17,000 now...) but google isn't playing nicely... I'd love to see the decor he chose!

Hmmn - also, I'm getting quite the Raymond Dibble vibes from this photo... *g*

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

How interesting! I googled as well and while Whimpey is still around, I can't find this specific place. I wonder if the State of London bloke on FB would know. Thanks!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Wimpey is a major construction company over here, one of the big ones. Tadley is just south of Reading. I tried to find out if "New Park estate" is still a place in Tadley, and the name comes up in a couple of estate agents listings, but only in that way where you'd have to go back through 48 pages to find the actual reference... *headdesk* - and I am supposed to be at work today! *g*

No idea who your "State of London bloke" - someone who claims to be an expert on London, I'm assuming! *g* (Reading isn't London though, so this might fall out of his remit - although if he's retired/locked-down etc., and has time to research, then do let me know... *g*)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You found more info so I'll poke around.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Great picture and article, definitely new to me as well and the one above. Cheers!

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing, "wimpey homes" that sounds so 70's *g*

Thankyou.

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this interesting bit. Doyle the Decorator! ;-)

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this - I'd not seen it before.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I think I recognise those tiles in the splashback on the wall! Or some very like them *bg* (pity no colour pics, or I'd know for sure *g*)

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Oh, and last day - congrats for making it happen, you absolute star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tinturtle]

Definite Raymond Dibble vibes.

[cyanne]

So wonderful that we're finding things that are new to us after 40 years. Thanks for the treat. And as a single person, I love the idea of flats decorated by MS/RD just for us.