Founder and former Chairman of Caunton Engineering David Bingham has been honoured for his contribution to his local community by being admitted as a new Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Broxtowe. He was amongst seven local people honoured by Broxtowe Borough Council in recognition in particular of his 30-year support in the redevelopment of the area in Broxtowe devastated by the closure of the Moorgreen pit in the early 1990’s.

In 1969 David joined with a former work colleague to set up the structural steelwork company, Caunton Engineering. The business quickly expanded and after moving premises several times, in 1992 settled on the site of the former National Coal Board National Workshop and Stores at Moorgreen in the Borough of Broxtowe, which had served the recently closed Moorgreen pit. The closure of the pit had a dramatic effect on the local community. Broxtowe Borough Council was concerned about the whole area and an innovative partnership project, the Eastwood Phoenix Project evolved, in order to attract funding and partners to provide the foundation for long term economic, physical and social regeneration of the whole area. David was invited to become a founder member and wholeheartedly committed himself and his company to the project. The result is a now thriving Moorgreen Industrial Park, alongside the popular parkland Colliers Wood.

Meanwhile Caunton Engineering under his leadership was becoming one of the top structural steel companies in the UK. David retired to a non-executive role in 2002 and his son Simon took over as managing director with daughter Sara as group accountant. Recognised as a leading light in his industry, David was to serve as President of the British Constructional Steelwork Association from 1994 to 1996.

Whilst David’s entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force behind his personal success, it is also these leadership skills which saw him persuade his colleagues to join the Eastwood Phoenix Project and over the following 30 years help develop the former Moorgreen pit area, and create opportunities for jobs, businesses and economy growth. These qualities the Council have recognised and are now pleased to honour.