There was no denting the enthusiasm of our Personality of the Year at the 14th Building Awards last Tuesday. Host Alistair McGowan had threatened winners with a merciless ribbing for any victory speeches, but an undaunted Nick Raynsford strode to the lecturn. "The last thing you want to hear is a long boring speech," he began, to cheers from the crowd. "But this is the most fantastic industry. All of every day it makes me excited by the quality, the imagination, the audacity of your achievement. I'm deeply proud to have been construction minister." It didn't take long for the 1,700-strong crowd to guess the winner as editor Denise Chevin began her introduction. Few can match Raynsford's record of service to the construction industry, from his early career as a social housing campaigner to his continuing representations in parliament as chair of the Construction Industry Council. There may have been six construction ministers since he gave up the post, but he's still everyone's favourite.
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