November 2009
The ‘Pirates of Chesterford’ hold Park to ransom on behalf of Children in Need!
Chesterford Research Park raises over £1,000 throughout the day
Visiting Chesterford Research Park on Friday 20th November, you would be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled across the latest set for the blockbuster movie Pirates of the Caribbean, rather than a state-of-the-art research park!
Led by their Captain, Park Manager Katherine Maguire, the team at Chesterford – dressed as befits a pirate’s crew in an assortment of guises from First Mate to Cabin Boy - spent the day raising as much money for Children in Need as possible.
Collection buckets were out in abundance with everyone entering or leaving the Park being asked to donate what they could. The restaurant team also joined in serving a ‘pirate’ themed menu which included delicacies such as ‘Black Beards breakfast’ and ‘Hooks bean hotpot’!
An impressive ‘Pirates of Chesterford Park’ banner, a canon, boat and treasure chest set the scene for those visiting the central Nucleus facilities throughout the day. Many thanks go to both The Design Business and Rickwood Display for the time and effort they put into the design and production of the banner which was produced free of charge for the occasion.
Team members from Security, Catering, Maintenance and the Fitness suite all took part to help raise a grand total of £1,036.
Chesterford Research Park’s Gonville Building home to Illumina Inc’s new European headquartersIllunina Inc step over the threshold into their new European headquarters
The occupation of the 41,500 sq ft Gonville Building at the beginning of November follows an intense period of design, planning, implementation, and construction for the design team at Churchmanor Estates Company Plc, the building contractors R G Carter, fit-out contractors, ISG Interior Exterior, and not least the new occupiers, Illumina themselves. The result of all this activity is a bespoke European headquarters for Illumina, which is one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers, and marketers of next-generation life-science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function.
Although newly occupying the Gonville Building, Illumina is no stranger to Chesterford Research Park. Since acquiring Solexa in late 2006, Illumina has had a presence at Chesterford. Prior to being handed the keys to the Gonville Building, the company’s rapid growth has been sustained through the provision of various laboratory and office accommodation via continued consultation with the developers and the Park management team.
Martin Sylvester, Director of Churchmanor Estates Company Plc, who are joint developers of the Park with Aviva Investors, commented: “The expansion of Illumina’s facilities is a great endorsement for the Park. Their increased presence further cements the Park’s reputation as a centre of excellence within the South Cambs Biotech Cluster.
Alan Kersey, Vice President and Site Manager for Illumina, said: “The phenomenal infrastructure and facilities available at Chesterford make working on this site very enjoyable. The Park has worked with us throughout the formative stages of our company, offering flexible and innovative solutions as our requirements changed and grew. Because of this long-standing collaborative relationship, Chesterford was the obvious choice when it came to choosing a location for our European headquarters.”
Chesterford Research Park has displayed significant pulling power over the last 12 months, the result of which is a thriving Park community made up of innovative, world-class R&D companies. Rather than resting on their laurels however, the joint venture partners, Aviva Investors and Churchmanor Estates Company Plc are pushing development plans forward to increase the facilities available to new occupiers. Planning permission has now been granted on both the Robinson Laboratory and the Science Village development and the joint venture partners remain keen to push these projects forward during the coming months.
Representing the ultimate in flexible design, the Robinson Laboratory will provide two separate wings of laboratory space, linked by an elegant atrium designed to house an impressive reception area and a versatile range of meeting rooms. As always at Chesterford significant thought has also been given to the external finish of the building, with sympathetic landscaping of the immediate area adding to the overall aesthetic.
The Science Village is similarly forward thinking in design. The low energy building will allow for flexible use as R&D offices and/or laboratory suites. Catering for companies at all stages of their life-cycle, the Village will offer one suite of 28,000 sq ft and a further 16 smaller suites ranging from 1,510 sq ft to 1,965 sq ft.
Christmas Lunches 16th & 17th December
Its that time of year again with the annual Christmas lunches at the Nucleus on the 16th & 17th Decemeber. With places filling up fast for both days it would be a good idea to book soon. To book please contact the Catering Manager or Events Executive.
To view the menu please click here
Park sponsorship of local event goes with a bang!
The 5th November couldn’t come soon enough for the residents of Little Chesterford. Preparations for the village’s annual bonfire night firework display started weeks in advance with the gathering of garden and other rubbish to fuel the fire. The week before the event a tractor and trailer did the rounds picking up from those unable to transport their offerings to the bonfire site themselves - the meadow behind the Village Hall, loaned for the occasion by a local farmer.
The event normally attracts almost the entire village population of approx 200 and this year was no exception. Residents from Great Chesterford and surrounding villages also joined the party to enjoy what was a fantastic firework display, sponsored by Chesterford Research Park.
Local residents & friends helped prepare and serve hot dogs, soup, baked potatoes, toffee apples and the village’s infamous mulled wine. Martyn Linwood of the Village Hall Management Committee commented: “This annual display has become a real village tradition over the last 40 years. Everyone that is able comes out to enjoy the display and we are extremely grateful for the support of Chesterford Research Park who have been sponsoring the event for the past seven years...a really great family event.”
All profits made from the night go straight back into the village to ensure that events such as this continue to feature in the annual calendar for Little Chesterford.
 
Local author chooses the Nucleus at Chesterford Research Park as the location for launch of debut novel
Chesterford Research Park played host to local Hempstead based author D H Lee’s launch of her debut novel, ‘Harleys, His Holiness and the Girl from Hackney’.
The launch party took place in the bar area of the Park’s central Nucleus facilities which offers state of the art meeting space flexibly designed to cater for both business and private functions. Approximately 60 guests attended the launch which consisted of a drinks reception followed by a reading from the book by the author and book signing.
Described as ‘enlightened entertainment’, the book is a refreshing, straight-from-the-heart take on the journey of self-development and transformation as seen through the eyes of Dan, an at first fairly cynical, cricket playing, beer-drinking chap whose life changes direction when he meets Kat, a girl from Hackney.
‘Harleys, His Holiness and the girl from Hackney’ is the debut novel by Deborah Coote, an Alexander Technique and meditation teacher, who writes under the pen name D H Lee. It is the first of what she hopes will be a series of books covering a variety of issues and was written in response to frequently asked questions from students and friends alike that ranged from “How did you change your life?” to “How can I be less stressed?” It was also the type of light-hearted book that Deborah said she would have found useful to read when she first started out on her journey into the unknown.
Deborah said: “Through my work as an Alexander Technique and meditation teacher, I have come to know many people who feel dissatisfied in some way with life – the type of work they do, the feeling that there isn’t enough time in the day in which to get everything done, they feel stressed or have some kind of pain... So my response has been to write about a couple who are in that same boat, and how they navigate their way through challenging situations such as moving out of London, changing career, marriage, bereavement, dealing with materialism and alternative lifestyles. As the journey continues they gradually see themselves evolve into different people.”
Deborah went on to comment: “Launching the book at Chesterford Research Park was the obvious choice for me. Having taught the Alexander Technique here in the past I have direct experience of the top quality facilities within the Nucleus and having seen the Team in action first-hand I had no doubt that they could assist me in making tonight such an superb experience for all.”
The launch at Chesterford Research Park will be followed by a London launch at the South Bank, Blue Fin Building – Refinery Restaurant in January 2010.
D H Lee launches debut novel at Chesterford Research Park
October 2009
Hole in One!
Paul Wright, CEO of UKSPA was delighted to hit his first ever hole-in-one on the last hole of the Park’s par three course at the beginning of October. Paul plays two or three times a week on the course, and enjoys escaping from the office for the lunchtime exercise. Having had a bad back for many years he is not a serious player and only uses a 50-60% swing, which he says is probably the reason for his accuracy.
Paul said: "The weather during September was so good that I managed to play most lunchtimes with one of my colleagues. Only a couple of weeks ago I was only about 6 inches from the flag on the first green with my tee shot, and was really disappointed that it didn’t go in! However, my hole-in-one shot felt right from the moment it left the club - the elevation was perfect and it pitched just on the edge of the green. It was rolling at the right pace towards the pin, but my colleague and I lost sight of it. It was only when we got to the green and started looking for the ball that we realised it was in the hole!
September 2009
Chesterford Research Park says thank you and farewell to one of its longest serving team members.
Jennifer Drury - Jenny to all her friends at the Park, joined Chesterford Research Park in the autumn of 1990 as a member of the Catering Team. She has been an indispensible member of the team during that time, always welcoming to all and willing to go the extra mile to ensure that both staff and guests to the Park receive the very best service, be it catering for a special diet or sourcing an extra pud!
Retiring last Friday Jenny commented of her time at the Park, “I have seen the Park change almost beyond recognition during my time here – there was a time when you could get a three course meal for just £1.00!. Working in such a beautiful rural setting has provided some very happy memories and I shall miss my colleagues here tremendously, although I have a feeling retirement will keep me busy!”
Park Manager, Katherine Maguire and the rest of the Park team gathered on Friday to give Jenny a send-off which included the presentation of many cards, flowers and gifts, including a sewing machine and a bronze hare to remind her of her time at Chesterford.
Jenny has her three daughters, four lovely grandchildren and her husband Ivan to keep her busy during her retirement. She also hopes to find time to continue her lace work and learn to play golf!
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IMAGE CAPTION: Park Manager Katherine Maguire with Jenny Drury.
Making a Run for it!
Last Sunday saw two of our Park team don their running gear to compete in the 2009 Great North Run.
Having spent the summer months pounding the streets (and Park roads!) in training, Nucleus Gym Manager, Noel Cooper and Park Manager, Katherine Maguire stormed around the course in 2hrs 12mins. A fabulous time for first time half marathoner Katherine, supported magnificently along the way by running buddy Noel!
Both Katherine and Noel were running in aid of the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer charity www.helenrollason.org.uk, and managed to raise approximately £1,600 between them.
Another intrepid Park resident, Andrew Hobson from Cellzome, also completed the course in a blistering 1hr 43mins, running for Macmillan.
The first Great North Run took place in 1981 with 12,000 runners taking part. Since then it has grown into the world’s largest half marathon attracting 54,000 competitors this year. 2009 saw Martin Lel win the men’s elite race in a time of 59mins 32secs with Jessica Augusto raising the winners medal for the women in 1hr 9mins.
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Its a knock out
The usually calm and tranquil surroundings of Chesterford Research Park were transformed last week into a scene more suited to that of a theme park than a cutting-edge R&D facility! The arrival of numerous inflatable obstacles and other paraphernalia required for an ‘It’s A Knock Out’ competition signaled the beginning of a memorable event for both the hosts, Chesterford Research Park and the beneficiary of the evenings activities, St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood, Essex.
Based on the popular TV show from the 1980s the ‘It’s A Knock Out’ event consisted of numerous outdoor wet and fun games and inflatable obstacle challenges. Ten companies from around the region raised sponsorship to take part.
A fun evening was had by all.
 
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July 2009
Chesterford Park vs Babraham
On the 30th July was the much anticipated re-match with Babraham science park. With the previous match keenly contested this was no difference with both sides putting out a strong line up. With Chesterford Park playing well and dictating play they had plenty of chances to take the lead, just before half time a penalty was awarded to Chesterford Park which the goalkeeper saved well. Half time both sides went in honors even. The second half continued much the same as the first. With the final whistle blown it finished honors even.
Blood Donation
July was also the month for blood donation with the National Blood Service coming. With 34 donations made and 6 new members a total of 35 pints were donated. The National Blood service has been coming to Chesterford Research Park for the past 3 years, and have in total given more than 200 pints of blood in this period.
June 2009
Chesterford Park Football Team
On the 30th June was the first inter Science Park football match between Chesterford Research Park & Babraham Science Park. The match took place at Babraham on a lovely evening, with Chesterford Park displaying their new kit. The match was keenly contested and with some great support from the sidelines. After a couple of deflected shots and a dubious penalty, the result was finalized with Babraham winning.
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Annual Softball tournament
The annual Softball tournament took place on the 25th July with 7 teams entering. With some big hitting from all the times and scores not going bellow 10, the final was contested between Biofocus and Biotica. Biofocus went in to bat first. With some great fielding by Biotica they limited them to a score of 14, so Biotica would have to go one better than that to win, they started of at a good pace but in the end some equally great fielding by Biofocus gave them the win by 2 home runs.
A big congratulations to the winners Biofocus and well done to all those who took part.
May 2009
Chesterford Park 5-a-side Tournament
Old rivalries resume!
The 14th May was the annual Chesterford Park inter-company football tournament with 9 teams entering. With some good football & some great goals in the knockout stages and a exciting penalty shoot out between ISG and Knowledge Genes, four teams progressed through to the semi-finals. The four teams that went through were Cellzome, The Nucleus, ISG & the reigning champions Illumina. Semi-final number 1 was won by ISG. The second semi-final went all the way to a penalty shootout with everyone scoring it went to the last penalty with Illumina going through to meet ISG in the final. The final was keenly contested by both teams but in the end ISG were victorious 3-1.
Congratulations to ISG and to all the other teams who took part, and a big thank you to all of those who cam to support including the Cellzome cheerleaders!
April 2009
London Marathon Participants
April was the month of the Flora London marathon and with places for this event notoriously hard we had two runners from Chesterford Research Park. A big congratulations to Nigel coates who ran the course in 2hours 59mins and Peter Daum who ran it in 4hours 5mins. Well done to all those who entered and completed the course.
Peter Daum (left) Nigel Coates (right)
Golfing season starts!!
The beginning of April was the start of the golfing season here at Chesterford Park with the golf course opening. Due to the lovely weather some good first scores were posted with the course record at 23 (3over par). On May 12th & 13th see's the first tournament of the season a chance to put your skills to the test. Do you think you can score lower??
Easter comes to the gym! But can they spell??
On the 9th April was the annual Easter egg hunt which took place at the Nucleus. With participants from the various companies all looking for the golden letters which spelt out a certain word. Once the correct word was spelt they would receive the golden prize chocolate.
A fun afternoon was had by all and a lot of chocolate was consumed on that day.
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