Images Dated 2022 February

Ice cream van JLP01_08_071642

Hornchurch Court, Bonsall Street, Hulme, Manchester. A recently completed multi-storey block of Sectra flats in Hulme, probably Hornchurch Court, with a family in the foreground buying from an ice cream van.
Sectra was a French prefabricated steel formwork design for flats which John Laing and Son Ltd acquired the British rights to in 1962. It was a method of using precision made
steel formwork for the placing of structural concrete in tunnel sections in room unit widths and ceiling heights. The units were bolted together in rows on special tracks, with the concrete poured to form the walls and floors in one operation. The formwork was internally heated to accelerate the hardening of the concrete in the mould and the sections were then lifted into position by a tower crane on the construction site.
Hornchurch Court was the first of three multi-storey blocks that Laing built in Hulme for the City of Manchester to replace 5,000 slum houses. The company started working on the site in October 1964 and finished 18 weeks later with the opening taking place on 10th May 1965. The other two blocks were due for completion at seven-week intervals

© Historic England Archive

Minders cheque JLP01_09_803462

Laing Sports Ground, Rowley Lane, Elstree, Barnet, Greater London. Dennis Waterman shaking hands with Geoff Seager and handing him a cheque after a charity football match at Laing's Elstree Sports Club, with event organiser Doug Bowden on the left.
An estimated 300 people attended the December 1980 charity football match between a team of Laing players and English actor Dennis Waterman's All Stars. The match was held to raise money for the Jerry Doherty Heart Fund. The game finished 2-2 and ?452 in total was raised. Stars on Dennis Waterman's team included Jan Webster, ex-England rugby scrum half; Danny Rioch, ex-Aston Villa; Jonathan Kyd, from children's TV programme Pipkins; John Inchmore, Worcester County cricketer; and Bob McNab, ex-Arsenal full back. Playing on the Laing side were Dave Hall, Tim Smith, Kevin Blande, Geoff Seager, Richard Sawyer, Chris Martin, Dave Offord, Graham Hollis, Will Kellett, Mike Reed, Bob Louden, Dave Butcher and Phil Brown. This image was published in January-February 1981 in Laing's monthly newsletter Team Spirit

© Historic England Archive

Dunk a director JLP01_09_841341

Laing Sports Ground, Rowley Lane, Elstree, Barnet, Greater London. A Laing director in a dunking chair being raised from a water-filled skip, as part of the dunk-a-director game during Gala Day at Laing's Elstree Sports Club.
The dunk-a-director game involved Laing directors being dunked into a skip of water in response to accurate horse-shoe throwing. The directors taking part included the Sports Club Chairman Martin Laing, Plant and Transport's Managing Director Derek Walsh, Homes Division Chairman Robert Wood, and Ray Randle, Lisa Althuizen and Pat Beaumont. The Gala Day also involved sporting competitions for adults and children, 31 stalls and charity stands, a raffle and more. Approximately £1000 was raised for the NSPCC

© Historic England Archive