Denis Welchman, Head of Estates Projects in the Estates Office is to retire on Friday 27 June after 35 years at the University.

Denis’s career began in 1966 when he joined the Architect’s Department of Devon County Council as a Trainee Building Surveyor. He was told by the County Architect in no uncertain terms that he would be expected to move on and broaden his experience within a couple of years.

In due course he applied for a post at University College London in the Bursar’s Office and was appointed as an Assistant Building Surveyor in April 1969. He came to the University of Warwick in 1973 and was promoted to Senior Assistant Building Surveyor on 1 February 1976 and to Building Surveyor in May 1990. Following a restructuring of the Estates Office he became Head of Projects in 2005.

During his time at Warwick, he was a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors West Midlands Branch and Building Surveyors Division Committee serving as Chair in 1982. He was a R.I.C.S Assessor on the Assessment of Professional Competence programme for 20 years. He was also a member of Coventry University’s Building Advisory Board representing the R.I.C.S. and was an External Examiner for the Building Surveying Hons Degree course.

Following retirement, he and his wife plan to devote more time to their large garden, do more fly fishing and travel culminating with a trip to New Zealand later in the year.

His colleagues wish him well for a happy retirement.