Richard Bifield Dip TP; MRTPI (Rtd); PPTMI; FTS (Rtd)
Tel: 01952 614319
Mob: 07976 100087
Email: richard.bifield@blueyonder.co.uk
Born Harrow, Middlesex 1946, raised on the Isle of Wight 1953-1964, qualified as a Town Planner (Nottingham School of Town and Country Planning) 1968.
Practised as a Town Planner with Newcastle upon Tyne City Council 1968-1970; and Berkshire County Council 1970-1977.
Joined Wrekin District Council in December 1977 as Conservation Officer and in late 1984 was appointed the Council’s first Tourism Manager.
Between 1984 and 2006 I was a tourism advisor to the Association of District Councils (ADC) and latterly the Local Government Association (LGA).
I served on the Executive Committee of the Tourism Management Institute and was elected National President for the year 1998-99.
I also was a Board member of the European Union of Tourist Officers and served as its Hon. Treasurer from 2000- 2005.
I retired from Telford & Wrekin Council at the end of September 2009
Currently I am:
- Publicity Officer and Trustee of the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust
- Vice Chair of the Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum
- Committee member of the Wellington Literary Festival, with special responsibility for publicity
- Committee member of the Art Fund Shropshire
Presenting illustrated talks to local clubs, societies and schools has been part of my work for 40 years, but latterly it increased in importance with my role as coordinator of Telford & Wrekin Council’s celebrations of three major anniversaries:
- 2007: 250th anniversary of Thomas Telford’s birth
- 2008: 40th anniversary of Telford New Town
- 2009: 300th anniversary of the Birth of the Industrial Revolution
Over the last three years alone I have given nearly 200 talks to local organisations including: Rotary; Round Table; 41 Club; Probus; Tangent; Women’s Institute; Town Women’s Guild; U3A; neighbourhood and community groups and special interest groups.
I have heard several of Richard's presentations over a number of years and can say quite honestly that they are excellent value for money being packed with fascinating facts and anecdotes drawn from his many years experience working in the area. I would recommend Richard to any community groups with an interest in local history. PS, Shrewsbury
ReplyDeleteRichard has been to our Ironmasters Vintage Motorcycle group and presented his "Thomas Telford" and "Telford Then and Now". His knowledge on the subjects is very impressive which kept us all enthralled for the evening, his enthusiasm for the subject matter is evident and his delivery is well paced. He has obviously put a great deal of time and effort into background research as all questions and comments, even the obscure ones, were answered fully. We would have no hesitation in recommending Richard. Tracey Richardson.
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