2008 Yearbook

i n r e v i e w 37 Practice Makes Perfect A chartered surveyor, Associate Member SARAH BUXBAUM works for the Valuation Office Agency and lectures part-time on building conservation for the School of the Built Environment at Liverpool John Moore’s University. As a ‘general practice’ chartered surveyor employed by the valuation office agency (the central government body responsible for business rates and council tax), I have spent much of the past 20-something years immersed in the world of valuation for rating and taxation purposes, with little or no involvement in the historic environment, other than the rare inspection of an older building. How then have I ended up as a part-time lecturer at Liverpool John Moore’s University, trying to enlighten and enthuse final year and masters students about pre-20th-century architecture and protection of the historic environment? Perhaps it was inevitable that, a decade after qualification, career restlessness would set in: I needed a new direction. Possibly it helped marrying a building surveyor who spent his time working with old buildings; possibly it was a growing appreciation of the benefits of growing up in an historic environment (patently not recognised during teenage years), or even a combination of both, but I found myself increasingly drawn to exploring the world of building conservation. Armed with a new set of twins and a (nearly) full-time job, this was, perhaps, not the ideal time to embark on a new career path. Undaunted, I researched the postgraduate courses on offer and identified only one practical option: the RICS Diploma in Building Conservation, run by the College of Estate Management. Already an old-hand at distance learning I was not fazed by the challenge of remote studying and, despite working late into the evening to meet assignment deadlines, preparing for the challenge of examination, and writing my dissertation, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the course. The residential elements of the course were invaluable, not only for the lectures delivered by leading conservation experts from all professional quarters, but for the networking opportunities with like- minded people, all equally enthusiastic about building conservation. While most of the students hailed from a planning background, a wide range of other professions were represented, including building surveyors, architects and landscape gardeners. Field trips to sites such as Fountains Abbey and the Tower of London forged strong bonds between members of the group and Wilton’s Music Hall in London was a particularly memorable experience, despite the fact that the visit formed part of our year end examination. On graduating I had no real idea of how I might be able to put my new The changing face of Liverpool Fine Georgian terraces in Rodney Street, Liverpool skills to the test, but as so often in life, fate intervened. By complete chance a close friend mentioned in passing that the building conservation lecturer