Weiping yet smiling
Kudos to Sir Robin Wales, mayor of the London Borough of Newham. The Labour politician addressed the predominantly Chinese audience at the ABP conference on Albert Dock this week. And while Wales did an admirable job of selling the benefits of his borough to ABP’s Asian visitors, it wasn’t all begging for investment on bended knee. His opening remarks about being re-elected with a 60% share of the vote may have been taken in good humour by the Brits in the audience, but their implicit message was plain to hear. Not that a little dig at China’s political system was going to ruin the day for ABP’s charismatic chairman Xu Weiping. A year in London has done nothing to dim his bright outfit choices. Even more pleasing was the effect it had on the notoriously grumpy secretary of state for communities and local government, Eric Pickles.
Building a happy marriage
Veteran developer Peter Beckwith was clearly on a roll this week – and the celebrations were non-stop. His business PMB Holdings this week won planning consent for a large mixed-use redevelopment on Berwick Street, W1, ending two years of designs and numerous meetings for transforming one of the shabbier parts of Soho. Not only does the project mark a return to London development for Beckwith (father of celebrity Tamara) who ran the London & Edinburgh Trust in the 1980s with his brother Sir John, but Diary suspects it also made his romantic partner very happy. Because, the morning after the green light was given, Beckwith was off to get married, and numerous members of PMB staff joined him to celebrate the nuptials. Double congratulations to the property tycoon.
Blanchard cortados favour
Estates Gazette revealed earlier this week that CBRE had poached Carl Blanchard from JLL to join its London-based workplace consulting team. Not only will CBRE relish his skills in developing space requirement briefs and real estate portfolio analysis, but one source reveals he has what some may argue is an even more practical talent. The happy source says: “Carl is known as one of the best ‘workplace baristas’, so he will be sure to put an extra shot of caffeine into CBRE’s 22-strong workplace team.”
Lean mean eating machine
Want to sculpt the perfect private equity body? Keith Breslauer has the diet for you. In one 24-hour period the super-fit Patron Capital boss managed to lose three pounds while consuming: two mushroom omelettes, Mexican tuna, four energy bars, four handfuls of nuts, one and a half large flapjacks, a plate of rice, six eggs, seven protein bars, six teaspoons of whey protein and two large packs of a blend of barleygrass, wheatgrass and alfalfa grass – or around 15,000 calories in total. Unfortunately for those fantasising about a swimsuit figure while gorging themselves, he also rowed more than 100 miles in ?23.5 hours as part of the Royal Marines 1664 Challenge in aid of disabled ex-soldiers. Breslauer’s heroic effort has so far raised £217,000. To help him hit the £500,000 target visit www.justgiving.com/Keith-Breslauer, and to see a video of ?the eating machine in action check out http://bit.ly/1l4ZThR
Redfern shaken by the hand
An unexpected show of affection from Berkeley boss Tony Pidgley left Taylor Wimpey’s Peter Redfern somewhat startled as they sat alongside each other at the Movers & Shakers residential breakfast on Wednesday. As Pidgley expounded the importance of public and private partnerships being “united” in tackling the UK housing crisis, he took a firm grasp of Redfern’s hand, leaving him somewhat lost for words. “To be honest, I’m still shaking from Tony grabbing my hand, so I apologise if my answers aren’t clear,” was his reply when asked a question moments later. The same event was a wondrous fount of amusing goings on. While introducing panellists, Movers & Shakers chairman David Jennings inadvertently referred to Pidgley having been awarded a “CBRE” for his services to the housing sector and community. An easy gaffe to make given CBRE was the event’s sponsor. However, Jennings gave the game away when he thanked prolific tweeter Susan Freeman for her tweet about his slip of the tongue. Until then, he had the crowd thinking he was simply being witty.
Fowl! No white feather for man with no name
The industry had a chance to show its mettle at the charity Business Heavyweights boxing tourney this week. TSG Property’s Andrew “No Nickname” Gardiner faced John “The Freak” Fowler, to support the Factory Youth Zone children’s charity. But it was the pre-match promotional videos that really caught Diary’s eye. In a clip complete with ominous music and fleeing poultry, Gardiner touts his fighting credentials by attacking an unsuspecting log. The movie ends as he menaces a reluctant rooster. http://goo.gl/5iWqOA
