Melhuish & Saunders News from 2025
Summer Newsletter 2025
We’ve been hard at work since our last update—building with vision, delivering quality, and striving to be the South West’s leading contractors.
Welcome to the Team Louis Woods!
Louis joined us earlier this month as a Quantity Surveyor apprentice. Louis is already making his mark, bringing his love of maths and enthusiasm for the growing construction industry to Melhuish and Saunders. We’re thrilled to have you on board and can’t wait to see you grow with us!
Pyrland School - Milestone met!
Great to see the completed seating, stage, and canteen serving area at Pyrland School!
Another milestone delivered as part of the project — creating new, improved spaces for students and staff to enjoy.
Welcome to the Team Ethan Mitchard!
We’re delighted to see another Mitchard family member officially join the team. Ethan joins us as a Bricklaying
Apprentice and will be undertaking his training each week at University Centre Somerset, Bridgwater.
Welcome aboard, Ethan – we look forward to supporting you on your journey!
New Project Announcement!
We’re delighted to announce our latest project – the New Build Medical Centre in Tetbury.
Even better, we’re thrilled to be working once again with Osmond Tricks, continuing a strong collaboration that delivers modern, high-quality healthcare facilities for the community.
This development will provide a state-of-the-art space for patients and staff, supporting better care for years to come.
New Project Announcement!
We are more than pleased to announce that we’ve secured a new Design and Build project!
Located in North Petherton, Bridgwater, the works comprise the extension of an existing building by approximately 700m².
The project includes all structural works, external envelope, and associated enabling works required to deliver a complete shell and core extension.
We look forward to getting started — stay tuned for updates as the project progresses!
£6,004.72 Raised at the Brookside Colour Run!
We’re so proud to have supported this year’s Brookside Colour Run, which raised an incredible £6,004.72 in memory of Olivia and in aid of Be More Like Olivia for the wonderful charity 2wish Cymru
Although there were no action shots of our own Darryl in the race (he was too busy keeping everyone refreshed at the refreshments stand!), he had a front-row seat to the amazing energy of the day.
Darryl said:
“It was a great event and one not to forget! Everyone looked like they were having fun and making memories. Community spirit is so important — and this event had it in abundance!”
Well done to everyone who ran, volunteered, donated, and cheered from the sidelines. We’re honoured to have played a small part in something so meaningful.
Lastly a big shoutout to Friends of Brookside – a small but mighty group of volunteers – for putting on such a fantastic event. Your hard work, heart, and dedication truly made it special.
Great to have a work experience student join us on-site at Pyrland School!
What a fantastic opportunity — getting hands-on experience and being able to say you helped build part of your own school. During the placement, our student got stuck in: assisting the bricklayers with loading out bricks and mortar, installing cavity insulation, and fitting Ancon ties to the exterior walls.
Our Site Manager, Andrew, also took the time to help build a timber bench, which the student got to take home as a memento of their experience with us.
Welcome to the Team!
Welcome to our newest recruit, Kevan Hawkins! Kevan has joined us as a Site Manager and is already making a great start on our Fire Station project.
We're excited to have him on the team!
Work Experience Student from Monkton Wood Academy
We're proud to welcome a Year 10 student from Monkton Wood Academy to our Glastonbury HQ for their work experience placement this week.
This week-long programme offers valuable insight into the wide range of tasks that keep both our office and construction sites running smoothly.
Work Experience Highlights So Far:
- A warm welcome, induction, and introduction to our team and projects
- Hands-on training in office systems, including the phone and photocopier
- Organising and filing key documents
- Learning how to fold and issue A1 plans to site
- Helping prepare new starter packs
Still to come: reviewing tenders, supporting general admin, issuing documents to site, tackling an archive room review and uniform stock inventory, contributing to social media planning for the month ahead, and reflecting on the full experience.
We’re committed to giving students meaningful exposure to the behind-the-scenes work that supports successful construction projects — and it’s great to see such enthusiasm and engagement in action!
Glastonbury Abbey – Run the Ruins!
Congratulations to Darryl, Bobby, and Andrew, who took part in Run the Ruins at Glastonbury Abbey on Sunday! It was a beautiful morning — and thankfully, not too hot for them!
The run was followed by a delicious well-deserved breakfast at My Fine Deli on Glastonbury High Street. We’re extremely lucky to have our HQ in such a wonderful place!
Melhuish & Saunders Proudly Support the Friends of Brookside Colour Run!
Melhuish & Saunders are delighted to be supporting another fantastic Friends of Brookside event!
This Saturday, 21st June 2025, a vibrant and fun-filled Colour Run will be hosted at Brookside Academy, bringing families, students, and staff together for a celebration of colour and community spirit.
Friends of Brookside is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of the children at Brookside Academy. Their fundraising efforts rely on well-loved community events—and the Colour Run promises to be one of the highlights of the year! However this event is special as they are raising money towards 2Wish for Be More Like Olivia.
We’re proud to stand alongside an amazing group of local businesses who are also lending their support:
Albert Goodman
The Sleek Easy Clean limited
Concept Products Ltd
Stonehill Tiling and Bathrooms
Min2Max Retailing
Ground Regeneration Matt Reay
If you'd like to support this meaningful cause, donations can be made here:
We’ll be cheering on all the participants—and hoping to capture some action shots of Darryl, our Managing Director, getting involved in the fun!
It’s truly inspiring to see our community come together to support Brookside Academy and such a worthy cause.
Fire Station Refurbishments
We’ve officially started refurbishment works at Chew Magna Fire Station, the first of four across the region — with Winscombe, Yatton, and Pill to follow.
These vital upgrades will deliver:
- A new external-access washdown facility
- Modern male & female changing facilities
- A safer, more efficient environment for our frontline heroes
All stations will remain fully operational throughout the phased works.
We’re proud to be enhancing these essential community hubs and supporting our fire services with facilities built for the future.
Welcome to the Team
Welcome to the team, Jason Addenbrooke!
A warm welcome to Jason who joined us at the beginning this week as our new Site Manager.
Victory in Europe (VE) Day
Today marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe. Darryl and his youngest daughter were honoured to pay their respects this morning. Special thanks to Eva, the new Youth Cadet of Street Parish Council, who raised the VE Day flag, and to Bryan Knickerbocker, Chair of the Council, for sharing a commemorative Proclamation.
Glastonbury student to get a hands-on week at major Town Deal site
A Glastonbury student training to become a carpenter is about to get some serious real-world experience — and it's happening right here in town.
Melhuish & Saunders, the Glastonbury-based firm leading the redevelopment of St Dunstan's House, are set to welcome the student for a week of work experience starting 14 April.
The placement coincides with a key moment at the site — the arrival of large glulam timber beams — and gives the student a front-row seat to a live construction project, right in the heart of Glastonbury.
The opportunity is part of the wider Glastonbury Town Deal programme, which is backed by government funding to support regeneration and economic growth. The redevelopment of St Dunstan's House is one of its flagship projects.
A spokesperson for Melhuish & Saunders said: "It's a real privilege to offer opportunities to the next generation of skilled workers.
"We believe it's our responsibility to ensure these careers are accessible to young people — to show them what we do, and the pride we take in our craft. Stanley, who's from Glastonbury and currently studying at Bridgwater and Taunton College, is joining us at an exciting moment in the project.
"We're thrilled to welcome him on site and be part of this milestone together. Huge thanks to Quantock Carpentry and everyone on site for taking Stanley under your wing and showcasing the best of what we do."
The firm, sponsors of Street and Glastonbury Nub News, say supporting local skills and opening doors for young people is a key part of their approach to the project.
Support for We are the Splashers
All of us at Melhuish & Saunders are wishing our MD, Darryl, and his youngest daughter, Bella, the best of luck with their Swimathon challenge this afternoon!
They’re also very close to reaching their fundraising target—let’s cheer them on!
New Project Announcement at Frampton Cotterell
We're excited to kick off work onsite this week at Frampton Cotterell, delivering another quality project for our valued clients, Westcoast Developments.
This new build convenience store is set to bring great benefits to the local community, and we look forward to bringing it to life!
Team Training at HQ
Tower scaffold and abrasive wheels training are taking place onsite today at our HQ in Glastonbury for our site staff. Regular training is essential to keep our team refreshed on safe working practices, ensuring a safer and more efficient work environment. A great session facilitated by Somerset Construction Training Group and delivered by The Building Safety Group.
New Project Announcement at Pyrland School, Taunton
We are delighted to announce that Melhuish & Saunders has been awarded the contract for the design and construction of a brand-new Assembly Hall, along with the refurbishment of the existing Dining Hall & Kitchen at Pyrland School!
This exciting project will commence in early April 2025, and we are looking forward to transforming these spaces to provide modern, high-quality facilities for students and staff.
Project Complete at John Wood Court, Bath
We're excited to share the completion of our latest project at John Wood Court!
Our team has transformed the ground floor into a dynamic social space for students to study, socialise, and unwind.
What’s New?
✅ Quiet study area
✅ Refurbished Laundry & Main Entrance
✅ Brand-new Games Room & WC
✅ Kitchenette & Socialising Area
✅ Specialist study booths & benching
✅ Upgraded Reception & Staff Area
✅ External recreation space
Electrical Upgrades including new power, data, fire alarm, access control, LED lighting & distribution boards.
Mechanical Upgrades including new air conditioning, ventilation, hot water systems & above-ground drainage.
A huge thanks to everyone involved in bringing this vision to life!
Project Complete – John Wood Building!
We're pleased to announce the successful completion of works at John Wood Building for Bath University!
This project focused on essential roofing upgrades to enhance the building’s durability and efficiency.
What’s New?
✅ Removal of existing corridor rooflight and installation of a new Alumas insulated roof covering system
✅ New timber structure & plywood decking to enclose the old rooflight
✅ Removal of parapet cladding & redundant plant
✅ Installation of new Alumas metal sheet cladding to the lift overrun
✅ Upgraded roof covering & drainage system
Services Installed
✔️ Reinstallation of ventilation & fire alarm systems in the enclosed corridor
✔️ No new services installed within the roofing works area
A great effort by everyone involved in delivering this upgrade!
Melhuish & Saunders are proud to support a fantastic local school event near their headquarters in Glastonbury!
Brookside Academy Street is hosting an event, made possible by the amazing volunteers of the Friends of Brookside School PTA. Melhuish & Saunders proud to be Platinum Sponsors for an incredible laser show by Fusion Event Services !
It’s set to be a fantastic evening on 15th March—so if you’re around, come along and show your support! Enjoy performances by Wookey Hole Circus, delicious fish & chips, and a variety of refreshments.
Get your tickets here: https://friends-of-brookside.sumupstore.com/products
Other supporters of this event are:
RDS Haulage SW Limited
Min2Max Retailing
Mum To Maid
Jennarations
Don’t miss out—support a great cause and enjoy a wonderful evening!
Dedicated Health and Safety Partnership
Great to have C2 Safety on board for another year as our dedicated Health & Safety Advisor! They continue to deliver invaluable site inspections and expert advice on best practices, ensuring our projects meet the highest safety standards.
Welcome to the Team
Welcome to the team, Richard Bridger!
Richard joined us at the beginning of February as our new Estimator, and we’re excited to have him on board!
Project complete at Horse Pond Inn, Castle Cary
The retail unit at the former Horse Pond Inn, Castle Cary, has been handed over! With retail spaces, it’s crucial to meet high expectations and requirements to ensure a seamless store fit-out. Thanks to our extensive experience with these projects, we successfully delivered the shell without issue to the client.
As well as a seamless handover, we were delighted by our site team’s amazing efforts in achieving an outstanding air test score of 0.72—an incredible result!
Somerset Construction Training Group
A huge thank you to Florence, our CITB Customer Engagement Advisor, for introducing Melhuish & Saunders Ltd to Hilary at Somerset Construction Training Group at the end of last year! Hilary’s expertise and support have not only saved us time and money but also opened up fantastic new training opportunities for our team.
What’s the view from your window right now?
It’s a wet and windy Thursday, and for many, it’s half-term! We’ve got a special helper in the office today—Bella—keeping us on our toes while we look out from our HQ in Glastonbury, where the iconic Glastonbury Tor stands tall. But what about you?
Bella is making sure the filing is in order (and even makes a lovely cup of tea! ). As we watch the stormy skies outside, we’re wondering… what can you see from your window?
Are you watching the rain sweep across rolling hills, looking out over a busy city, or just staring into the depths of your coffee cup? Maybe you’re working on an exciting new site or project? 🏗️ Or perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones soaking up some winter sun on a beach?
Residential unit at the former Horse Pond Inn
The new residential unit at the former Horse Pond Inn has been handed over. The client did a fantastic job dressing the property, and it’s no surprise it sold within days of hitting the market! A beautifully designed space that will surely make a wonderful home for its new owner.
Hello 2025!
We are back after a refreshing festive break and we’re ready to embrace 2025!!
Do you have a vision for a new build, extension, or refurbishment?
Engaging with Melhuish & Saunders early in the process can make all the difference. We’re here to help bring your ideas to life, ensuring your project is not only delivered to perfection but also stands the test of time.
Our team is always happy to offer free, no-obligation advice and guidance. Whether you’re just starting to explore possibilities or have a clear plan in mind, we’d love to support you on your journey.
Feel free to reach out—we’re here to help!
