Housing Technology is delighted to announce that Simon Weston OBE and George Clarke will be giving the keynote presentations at the Housing Technology 2014 conference and executive forum on 26-27 February 2014.
George Clarke, architect & tv presenter
George is the presenter of several very successful series for television, including Channel 4’s Restoration Man and The Great British Property Scandal and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.
George Clarke is an architect and is Creative Director of architectural practice George Clarke + Partners. He is also a writer, lecturer and TV presenter. George is passionate about the way architecture can transform our everyday lives and his aim is to make architecture popular and accessible to everyone, while at the same time creating award winning homes for his clients. He is an ambassador for the housing and homeless charity Shelter, as well as a Building Community ambassador for the Prince’s Foundation.
Simon Weston OBE
In 1982 the Sir Galahad was destroyed in Bluff Cove on the Falkland Islands. On board was Simon Weston, Welsh Guardsman, a name and face that was going to become well known for his struggle to overcome his injuries (46% burns) and redefine his role in life. Simon’s message is one of achievement, of triumph over adversity, of seizing the moment and succeeding.
Following his injuries, Simon’s road to physical, spiritual and mental recovery saw him active in a number of highly successful ventures including ‘The Weston Spirit’, a Liverpool-based young people’s charity. His charitable work earned him an OBE in the 1992 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was also awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in 2002 in recognition of his bravery and his charity work in the region. He has appeared in the Top 100 Merseysiders list in 2003 and honoured as one of the top 100 Welsh Heroes in 2004.
Simon’s story has been well publicised and he has been the subject of five major BBC Television documentaries: Simon’s War, Simon’s Peace, Simon’s Triumph, Simon’s Return and in April 1999, Simon’s Journey. He has been a ‘victim’ on This is Your Life. In late 2011 Simon returned to the Falklands Islands to film a documentary to help mark the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War in 2012. In 2013 he was voted for the Peoples Portrait by viewers of the BBC One Show and his portrait is now being painted to be hung in the National Portrait Gallery.
