Raymond Brown are delighted to announce Don Coates as the group’s new Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment is a key part of Raymond Brown’s future growth strategy, which will see Don steering the business through its growth and expansion plans.

Don commented: “Raymond Brown is a well-respected business and I am excited to be joining at a key time in the Group’s development when there are many great prospects.  I will ensure that we remain committed to our employees, customers, local communities, health and safety and improving the environment, which underpins our core values.  I look forward to supporting the senior team in leading the group through this next phase.”

Don has 30 years’ experience in manufacturing, working across a variety of sectors, and has led several businesses as CEO in both private and public company environments, including 17 years with DS Smith Plc, where his responsibilities included running the UK’s largest waste paper recycler.

Don will be working closely with Chief Operating Officer, Steve Clasby, Chief Financial Officer, Wayne Roberts, and the management team.

Steve Clasby commented: “On behalf of the Raymond Brown team, I would like to welcome Don, who we are thrilled to have on board.  I very much look forward to working with Don to make the most of the opportunities ahead as we continue our success into the future.”

Raymond Brown took their new sign written grab lorry to Smannell and Enham Primary School, accompanied by Sean Warren (Business Development Manager), Alix Kerr (Assistant Transport Co-ordinator) and Martin Brown (Driver). The children from Smannell and Enham school had taken part in Raymond Brown’s lorry competition to design posters around recycling and the winning children were given certificates, goody bags and book vouchers for their efforts in taking part and were also able to sit in the lorry cab.

The children learnt about the importance of recycling and how Raymond Brown are addressing the issue through educating children through their links with local schools.

All of the children from Smannell and Enham School were very excited to see the new lorry and promised the driver they would wave at him if they spot the lorry on the roads.

An archaeological assessment has revealed how Binnegar Quarry near Wareham was the site of an underground hideout for the secret Auxiliary Units, Britain’s wartime resistance in waiting.  Andrew Joseph Associates Archaeology Services, working under contract to Raymond Brown, recognised the significance of the site as unusual, on a quarry site that also contained Bronze Age barrows and Battery Bank, a boundary marker and scheduled ancient monument.  Experts were called in to assess the site from Historic England, the County Archaeologist and specialist Auxiliary Units research group, Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART).

The Auxiliary Units were set up in 1940 in case of a Nazi invasion. Their role was to hide underground while the first wave of an invasion passed by and then emerge to sabotage supplies, transport and communications to hamper the German forces and allow a counter attack.  Made up of six to seven men in a patrol, drawn from local civilians, they were taught demolition and issued large quantities of explosives and weapons.  Each patrol had an underground hideout where they could rest and store their supplies.  It would be carefully disguised against discovery.  The men were told their life expectancy after invasion was just a couple of weeks.

The expert review revealed that the bunker was partially collapsed and heavily damaged.  As it was not in a fit state for preservation, it was agreed that it would be fully recorded by archaeological investigation prior to its deconstruction. This was done in stages over 18 months from 2017 and 2018.  CART volunteers lead the project with specialist archaeological support from Ian Meadows from Andrew Josephs Associates and the New Forest National Parks Community Archaeology Service.  Raymond Brown provided plant to assist the excavation and transport to the remote site and local residents were kept updated throughout by Councillor Barry Quinn who attended regularly to review its progress.

Very few such underground bunkers have been excavated in this way. The dig found a sturdy Nissen hut-like main chamber with an entrance shaft at one end and a short tunnel and escape exit at the other.  It revealed that it had been intentionally collapsed in the 1970s, with the centre of the roof removed and the interior filled with sand, however, some elements of its wartime use remained.  At the base of the shafts were found remains of the hatch mechanisms including a heavy concrete counter weight.  These were used to vertically lift a heavy soil covered hatch that disguised the shaft.  The dig revealed an extensive ventilation system, made from over one hundred four inch glazed earthenware pipes brought in from the Midlands.  This relied on warm air rising through pipes set in the roof which drew in fresh air through other pipes running to the bottom of the bunker.  In the base of the tunnel were found numerous inert trap switches. These had been deliberately deactivated by whoever had discarded them, the empty boxes they came in being found nearby.  Other similar devices had been found as part of an extensive metal detector survey of the surrounding area indicating that the men had been training nearby.  This survey also found a metal first aid splint and a .50 calibre bullet, evidence of the US Army who were briefly based in nearby Binnegar Hall prior to D Day.  Other finds included discarded tin cans from a meal eaten by the men who built the bunker, found in backfill outside the bunker walls.

A full report will be lodged with the County Archaeologist in due course and it is hoped to stage an exhibition of the findings in the local area next year.  Raymond Brown have donated the finds to CART to be exhibited as part of their public displays explaining the history of Auxiliary Units.  It is planned to erect a pair of memorial benches constructed from blocks salvaged from the bunker, to remember the men who received no recognition at the end of the war, due to the secrecy of the organisation.

One of Raymond Brown’s newest Grab Lorries was branded yesterday at the traditional Cart Marking Ceremony in the City of London.  The lorry, which was designed by Foxhills Junior School in Southampton was driven by Mark Attwood and is the fourth Raymond Brown lorry to have been branded in the annual ceremony.

This year the Carmen will celebrated their 501st anniversary and the annual Cart Marking Ceremony took place in Guildhall Yard commencing at 10.35am on Wednesday 18th July 2018. Vehicles were marked between the Master Carmen, Patrick Marsland-Roberts TD, The Rt.Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Charles Bowman and the Master Glover, Alvin Seth-Smith.

The ancient tradition of cart marking dates back to the 16th century when all carts operating in the City of London were required to pay five shillings for the right to ply for hire in the City and have their axles branded – an early form of vehicle licensing.

On Thursday 21 June, Raymond Brown held an open afternoon at Brickworth Quarry to provide the local community with an opportunity to have a tour of the site, chat to employees and enjoy a community afternoon.

The open event ran from 3.30pm – 6.30pm and saw over 60 visitors enjoying the sunshine at the quarry as they tucked into freshly made pizzas from a wood fired pizza oven and refreshments.  In the morning, the site welcomed 25 schoolchildren from nearby Whiteparish Primary School, who were invited on a school trip to have a tour of the site and learn about the industry.  This educational visit forms part of our Community Matters Initiative which sees us providing and supporting industry learning opportunities within the communities in which we work.

The event welcomed families and all children were gifted with a mini hi-vis vest and goody bags.  Children were also able to create their own sand creatures to take home and were provided with activities to complete, such as Biodiversity Bingo.  Congratulations to our two Biodiversity Bingo winners, Emily and Alex who received a £15 book voucher each.  Visitors were given guided tours by employees who are experts in the quarry, its history and nature conservation.

The event was free of charge to all visitors but through donations on the day, £50 was raised for the Whiteparish Memorial Trust.

Industry trade association, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) also attended, discussing with visitors the importance of sustainable development, biodiversity environmental protection and safety in and around quarries.

Steve Clasby, Chief Operating Officer commented: “We have an award winning site and it was a pleasure to be able to open it up to the local community and showcase our biodiversity and restoration.  Judging by the feedback received, the event was hugely successful and provided guests with an opportunity to engage with our employees as well as providing them with an insight into our operations at Brickworth Quarry.”

Photos from the day can be found by clicking here.