Seaside Network Patrons

Seaside Network Patrons

The Seaside Network Patrons act as figureheads, the choice of Patron also sets the tone of Network. The Network intends to be practical in its approach yet dynamic in its thought process. Coastal communities have very serious and difficult regeneration issues. In order to overcome this some places need to ‘reality check’ expectations and be imaginative in finding opportunities to create change.

Wayne Hemingway and Roger Lewis embody the value outlined above; dynamic yet grounded in reality.

Wayne Hemingway, Urban Designer, hemingwaydesign

"I have always been drawn to the sea. I was conceived in room 16 of the art deco Midland Hotel overlooking Morecambe Bay and spent the first part of my life crabbing in Morecambe’s boating pools, digging for ragworm with my Pop on the mussel beds and then fishing for flatties off the stone jetty Some memories weren’t so joyous but perhaps were character building - being “encouraged to sing Cliff Richards terminally naff “Congratulations” in a talent contest on Harry Graham’s Bandstand and being dressed like Tarzan and sitting on the back of a float during the carnival. I can still smell the mixture of vinegar and olive oil that my mum used to smear on me to get me brown on Heysham beach!

Morecambe was a joyful place, where my Nan had a choice of piers to go dancing on, where my mum had cool coffee houses like Brubecks to hang out in and where I had a choice of beach activities and an amazing Lido. It saddens me when I go back to my birth town that all of this has gone and the joy that I remember is conspicuous by its absence.

Morecambe’s tale is a common seaside one, but there are sign of life. In Morecambe, the wonderful Winter Gardens variety hall (where my wrestling dad held me up in the ring) is being gradually brought back to life and the Midland Hotel is being lovingly restored. Nationally seaside lidos and theatres are being re-evaluated.

I live by the sea now in West Sussex, where the National Trust ensures that this bit of coastline retains its value. Hopefully the Seaside Network can help parts of Britain’s wonderful seaside to rediscover and build on its value."

Roger Lewis, former Chairman of The Berkeley Group

“I have been excited and encouraged by the work of the Seaside Network over the past year, and how much it has achieved in generating fresh and innovative ideas on the physical, economic and social improvement of seaside towns. It has succeeded in putting the issue of coastal renewal firmly on the regeneration agenda, and the network has effectively become the leading independent expert voice on the subject. Now I have officially been brought on board as patron I hope my expertise in the private sector will assist the network as it seeks to forge closer links within this area”.

Born 26 June, 1947 in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. Educated Eton College. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Peat, Marwick & Mitchell in 1970. In 1972 he joined Crest Nicholson and at the end of 1975, became Managing Director of Crest Homes. In 1983 he became Group Chief Executive of Crest Nicholson. In 1991, joined The Berkeley Group plc and in January 1999, became the Chairman of The Berkeley Group plc. He retired from this position on the 31 July 2007 and now acts as a consultant to The Berkeley Group plc. Roger Lewis has, therefore, spent over 30 years in the residential development industry.