Next Sunday I will be taking part in the BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride for the second time.

Since losing Mel to SADS last year it feels even more important than ever to be supporting this event.

The British Heart Foundation support research into the causes of SADS and as a woman of science I know that this is how Mel would have chosen to make a difference.

I would be really grateful if you would join me in supporting this good cause by visiting my donation page.

Thank you.

Please support Mel’s cousin Ruth Valentine, who will be running the Manchester marathon this weekend in her memory.

It is just two weeks since Ruth got the all clear to start running again following a knee injury that nearly stopped her participating.

She probably shouldn’t be doing it, but I don’t think backing out has ever been on her agenda after training so hard for the last few months.

Ruth is raising money for Mel’s favourite charity Cancer Research, so please support her by visiting her donation page.

Last year there was a terrific turnout for the picnic in Regents Park.

We said we would try and do the same every year, so this years picnic will be at midday on 17 August in the same place; the field adjacent to the Broadwalk to the east of London Zoo.

As with last year all are welcome, and the backup location (in the event of rain) is the beer garden of the Edinboro Castle on Mornington Terrace a couple of minutes walk away.

Last year the day following the picnic I set off to cycle the length of the River Rhine; from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. I wrote a blog about the journey, and with your help we raised over £5,500 for Mels favourite charity, Cancer Research.

In two weeks time I will be cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End and blogging about the journey at markfretwell.com where there is also an extended version of the blog I wrote for last years trip.

I was very proud to present the inaugural Rising Star Award for 2013, to Andrew Kinsey of Mace.

Andrew is a champion of sustainable timber, being responsible for the largest FSC certified project to date with the Athletes Village for London 2012, as well as encouraging use across the park – resulting in a sustainability legacy of 9 new FSC certified suppliers.

He has also engaged with MPs on EU timber regulations and waste, and further impressed the judges with a range of sustainability posters aimed at site workers – demonstrating his influence from site worker to the boardroom.

Highly commended was Sofie Pelsmakers for The Environmental Design Pocketbook, which uses a novel approach to communicate often complex principles to architects.

The other finalists for the award were Susie Diamond, Tom Dollard, Tom Lipinski and Marion Baeli.

I would like to thank the all the judges, Anna Surgenor, UK-GBC; Will Ray, Rockwool; Victoria Burrows, PRP; Phil Clark, UBM; Su Butcher, Just Practising and in particular Andrew Mellor of PRP without whose energy and commitment this award would not have happened.

I would also like to thank Paul King and the rest of the team at UK-GBC for supporting the award.

I’m going to be very proud to present the Rising Star Award in memory of Mel at Ecobuild next Wednesday 6 March.

If you would like come along, please don’t forget to register for Ecobuild and for the UKGBC drinks reception.

I hope to see a few of you there.

The six finalists will be profiled in next weeks building magazine, and the judges are meeting this afternoon to choose the winner.

There is still one week left to nominate a colleague or peer for the New Rising Star Award in memory of Mel.

This UK-GBC award, in association with PRP architects will recognise an individual from the built environment community who has driven innovation or change around sustainability, and to shine a light on their acheivements.

You can find out more about the award by visiting the Rising Star Award webpage before submitting your nomination here.

Finalists will be profiled in Building Magazine, and at Ecobuild 2013 where the winner will be presented with their award.

Nominations close on 25 January 2013.

New Rising Star Award opens for nominations

A new Award has been created that will recognise sustainability champions in the property and construction sectors. UK-GBC, along with PRP Architects, is supporting the launch of the Rising Star Award which will honour a member of the built environment community who has driven change and innovation around sustainability. 

The award has been set up in memory of Mel Starrs, a prominent built environment practitioner with a passion for sustainability, who passed away in July 2012. 

The initiative is a chance to nominate a colleague or peer who has made a real difference to the sustainability agenda and shine a light on their achievements.

Paul King, CEO at the UK Green Building Council said: “We are very proud to be supporting this new Award along with PRP Architects. Recognising built environment professionals who have made a real difference in championing sustainability is a fitting tribute to Mel Starrs, who was so well known in the sector for pushing the green agenda forward.”

To nominate someone for the Award, fill out our short submission form here. The deadline for nominations is 25 January 2013.

Finalists will be profiled on the PRP and UK-GBC websites, through social media channels, in Building Magazine and at Ecobuild 2013, where the winner will be presented with their trophy.

Visit the award website

http://www.ukgbc.org/news/new-rising-star-award-opens-nominations

In case you hadn’t noticed, at the end of September Elemental won the 2012 BE2 Award for Best sustainability or built  environment blog.

This is what it looks like.

I was really proud and touched to collect the award on behalf of Mel, and I know her family were too.

I’ve been speaking to a few of you over the past few months about creating something to celebrate what Mel created in Elemental, and want to push forward with the idea of creating a book based on her best articles.

Mel always wanted to publish a book, and although we’ll never get to read the book she would have written, there are enough articles here to fill several books.

That’s where you can help.

If you could take a moment to nominate your favourite article (or articles) by adding a comment below, it would be incredibly helpful in beginning the process of selecting the content for the book.

The general theme for the book is the ‘best of Elemental’ and I would welcome suggestions from any of the categories and subjects Mel wrote about – the articles that will stand the test of time and best demonstrate Mel’s thinking, personality and wit.

I will do my best over the coming months, with the help of some of Mel’s friends to turn it into a product fitting of the tremendous work it took to create Elemental.

Thanks again for everyone who supported Riding the Rhine in memory of Mel with generous donations. The total (including corporate donations and gift aid) at the time of writing this stands at £5,535.01 which is truly impressive, and a wonderful testament to what you all thought of Mel.

If you haven’t donated yet and would like to, now would be a great time. Click here to make your donation.

The picnic in Regents Park on the 28th July 2012 was a great success, and we’re thinking of making it an annual event.

Mel Starrs sadly passed away at our home in London on 14 July 2012.

She was my beautiful, funny and utterly brilliant partner-in-crime for more than 11 years, and words will never be able to express how much I am going to miss her.

I know that her family, friends and colleagues are all feeling the same way.

It will be some time before we understand the exact cause, however all the indications are that it was extremely quick and that she would not have suffered. We can at least take a little comfort in that.

Mel put so much time, care and attention into creating the content for her blog. I know because I watched her do it over countless evenings and weekends. She just believed so passionately in creating a better built environment and in making a nicer place for us all to share.

She built an incredible army of followers on Twitter, where I know she will be missed by a great many. I know she had a real bond with so many people she’d never met in person, and used to love it when they came up and introduced themselves at events.

Mel was such an amazing person, and for so many different reasons.

She was the most supportive and wonderful partner I could have ever hoped for and she will be sorely missed by all our family and friends.

Mel’s funeral will be taking place in her home town of Ballycastle, Northern Ireland as soon as all the necessary formalities have been completed.

It is likely to be on Friday, Saturday or Sunday of this week and I will announce the date, time and location here as soon as it is confirmed. All are welcome to attend.

Mel’s family have requested donations to her favourite charity, Cancer Research instead of flowers. You can donate here.

I know it is something she would have appreciated.

We are also organising opportunities to celebrate Mel’s life in London and Leeds.

The first will be a picnic in Regents Park from 12pm on the 28th July. We will meet on the field at the northeast corner, to the east of London Zoo and north of Gloucester Gate.

Here is a link to a map of Regents Park.

Mel loved good red wine and cheese, so please grab a bottle, and a chunk of whatever takes your fancy and join us if you can. She would have really enjoyed attending something like that.

We will announce something in Leeds very soon.

I love you so much Mel, and I always will. You will never be forgotten.

Mark xxxxxx