You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Housing association founder John Pennell dies
John Pennell, who founded three housing associations in the South of England, has died at the age of 83.
Mr Pennell founded Crawley Co-Partnership Housing Association in 1962, before going on to launch Coastal Counties Housing Association and Northlands Housing Association.
At Crawley Co-Partnership, he designed and developed a scheme of 72 houses and communal buildings. The scheme, Shrublands, was later the subject of a BBC short film.
He went on to build a 125-home extension and a 242-home scheme in Basildon.
Coastal Counties built low-cost rental housing in Reigate, Lewes, Ashford and Basildon, while Northlands also developed co-ownership schemes across the South East of England.
Having learnt to fly during national service with the Royal Air Force, Mr Pennell later organised the first charter flight into Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport after the erection of the Berlin Wall.
He also organised cricket tours to Test matches in Barbados and Australia.
Mr Pennell died peacefully in his sleep on 2 April and is survived by his wife Jacquie, his children Andrew and Susan, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
