Pictured above: (l-r) Ian Viles, Marie Mabe, Jessica
Lee, and Councillor Robert Parkinson, Mayor of Erewash
Erewash MP Jessica Lee formally opened Castledine House in
Heanor Road, Ilkeston, which provides offices for start-up and
small businesses.
The £300,000 project was led by regeneration agency
Erewash Partnership and grant-aided by Derbyshire Economic
Partnership.
Ms Lee unveiled a plaque and said the Partnership, whose board
she recently joined as a director, was an example of best practice
as to how local partnerships should operate.
Partnership chief executive Ian Viles said that the performance
of small to medium enterprises in the borough made a big
contribution to local prosperity.
"Consequently the Partnership strives to provide high quality
support to local businesses.
"The availability of high quality premises for local businesses
is also crucial and for this reason the Partnership set out to lead
by example in developing Castledine House."
The building dates back to the turn of the 20th century and was
named in recognition of a former business on the site.
Florence Castledine was a successful milliner who founded a
business in 1908. The business expanded to sell drapery and
children's clothes but closed in the 1970s. It later housed other
business before being bought by the Partnership.
Mrs Castledine's daughter, 89-year-old Marie Mabe, who was
born above the shop in what is now office suite three, and who
still lives in the town, was a guest at the opening.
"I'm delighted to see what the Partnership has done to the
building," she said. "It's superb, light, friendly and buzzing. I'm
delighted that it's come back to life."
Mrs Mabe's late husband Arthur set up the firm of chartered
accountants Mabe Allen in the town. He took on Kevin Slack as a
junior. Mr Slack, who is now partner with the firm, was one of
those who advised the agency on the development.
Ms Lee later spoke to Partnership members at a lunch in the
Novotel, Long Eaton and then visited Derwent Anayltics on the
Manners industrial estate, Ilkeston, where she opened the firm's
new production plant for making pharmaceutical solutions.