Closed Circuit: Bernard Shed

Four high-profile housing figures were honoured with OBEs in the Queen’s recent Birthday Honours list: Tony Stacey, Chan Kataria, Alison Inman and Geraldine Howley.

It turns out that when they go to collect the award, they won’t necessarily meet the Queen. Instead, it could be any appointed member of the royals.

So are they all hoping to meet Her Majesty? No. As one of the fantastic four confided in Closed Circuit’s spy at the Housing Heroes Awards dinner on Monday night: “I’m rather hoping it’s Harry actually.”

Closed Circuit’s spy is keeping mum about which of the housing sector grandees is hot for Harry, but our money is on you, Chan.

Also at the Housing Heroes Awards on Monday night, delegates were surprised by one of the nominations for inspirational tenant/resident of the year – Bernard (or should that be BARNard) Kivel of Stockport Homes.

To the surprise of, well everyone, Bernard’s photo accompanying his award entry revealed he was in fact a giant green shed.

Closed Circuit doffs its proverbial cap to Mr Kivel – inspiring others is always something to be proud of and it can’t be easy to achieve as an inanimate steel and wood outhouse.

The Homes and Communities Agency has discovered the 21^st century!

As it gears up for a name change in the autumn (Homes England – does what it says on the tin) the organisation is prioritising the important stuff, like making a Spotify playlist about housing.

We’ve got suggestions aplenty – mostly stuff by Madness (they love a good house); anything by Prefab Sprout; Our House by Crosby, Stills & Nash; To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra… Stop us, please.