FELIXSTOWE Chamber has unanimously elected travel agent Andrew Rowdon as deputy chair, following the recent resignation of Carol Jones.

Mr Rowdon, of Andrew Rowdon Travel, once played youth football with Tottenham Hotspur.

He also played county rugby, is a keen hurdler, and even sang at the London Palladium.

He has been active with the chamber since joining last year, and along with Nick Barber helped with the launch of a new-look Visit Felixstowe website, an initiative which is intended to be self-funding, with local companies volunteering approximately �40 a year for substantial promotion.

PAUL Forsyth has joined Ellisons Solicitors in Colchester as an assistant solicitor in the corporate commercial team.

Although he trained, qualified and worked for two years at a London firm of solicitors, he is no stranger to Colchester having graduated in 2005 with a law degree from the University of Essex. He returns to the town to specialise primarily in mergers and acquisitions, asset and share disposals, joint ventures and commercial agreements.

Head of corporate commercial Seamus Clifford said: “There is no doubt that it has been tough for all corporate lawyers with the dip in transactional work but at Ellisons we are firmly focused on the future and believe that now we have the opportunity to build the right size and shape of team to best look after our clients as we emerge from this recession.”

RAY Winney, site manager at Persimmon Homes’ Lark Rise development in Carlton Colville has received a Top 100 Seal of Excellence award from the National House-Building Council (NHBC).

After achieving a Pride in the Job Quality Award from the NHBC earlier in the year, Lowestoft-born Mr Winney, who works for Persimmon Homes Anglia, has now been chosen as one of the top 100 site managers in the country.

He won the award after showing he could motivate his team to produce consistently high standards and has been able to deal skilfully with any problems on site, such as difficult ground conditions.

He said: “I am very pleased to have won a Top 100 Seal of Excellence Award. My success is largely due to the commitment and spirit shown by my team and I am grateful for all their hard work and support.’’

Mr Winney gained a Pride in the Job Quality Award from the NHBC in June.

The NHBC award scheme aims to encourage and reward high standards in building and recognises the vital role that site managers play in ensuring that new home buyers receive top quality homes.

Andrew Fuller, managing director for Persimmon Homes Anglia, said: “We are committed to building quality homes in this region and are thrilled that the contribution that Ray has made towards our success has been recognised.”

The NHBC Awards are judged from a total 17,000 construction sites in the UK. The scheme actively encourages and rewards site managers at grass roots level who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the highest quality workmanship.

EAST Anglian new homes builder Hopkins Homes has further strengthened its team via internal promotions and another new appointment – its ninth new appointment in just seven months.

Dawn Urry has been promoted to the position of field sales manager, leading the team of sales negotiators, implementing and overseeing all site sales activity and ensuring consistent high standards are maintained at every stage of the home buying process.

Lesley Lewendon has been promoted to the position of sales and marketing co-ordinator. She was previously within the customer care department.

Matthew Atton has been appointed land manager in the land department. A graduate of Anglia Ruskin University, he has strong links with the region and in particular Essex and Cambridgeshire which feature significantly within the company’s expansion plans.

Executive chairman James Hopkins said: “The strength of Hopkins Homes lies very much in the team we have assembled, who are able to progress careers through internal promotion, and the highly talented people that want to join us and be part of the Hopkins team.

NIGEL Loble has joined independent East Anglian builders’ merchant Kent Blaxill as plumbing and heating development manager. Based at the company’s Colchester headquarters, he will be responsible for helping Kent Blaxill to expand in the plumbing and heating sector, with a special focus on renewable energy technologies.

Mr Loble, 31, who lives in Colchester, has 14 years of experience working for a number of plumbers’ merchants.

John Ford, operations director, said: “Kent Blaxill is aiming to expand into the plumbing and heating sector, and with the greater interest in solar heating and renewable energy sources, has been looking for the right person to spearhead this development.

“It has become very obvious that plumbers, heating engineers and electricians will be at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution, and Nigel has a very good understanding not only of heating and plumbing, but has also acquainted himself with a number of renewable energy products.”

He will be developing the business in Colchester, as well as helping Kent Blaxill branches to supply a full range of competitively priced heating and plumbing goods.