Summit survey winner revealed
Turf Business are delighted to announce that Michael Kemmett, Grounds Manager at Harrow School, has won a coveted place to attend the first Turf Business Summit at Real Madrid’s training grounds in October.
After completing a pan-industry survey, put together with the help of Research Engine, Mike was thrilled to win an all-expenses paid trip to the highly-anticipated turf-care event. When Mike found out he had won, he was already celebrating, as he says: “I was actually at a friend’s wedding in Ireland and was naturally ecstatic!”
Mike has been Grounds Manager at Harrow for two and a half years and was Deputy from 2010-2011 before being offered the top job at the prestigious Haberdashers Boys School. Educated at Hartpury College, Mike spent a couple of years in Australia before returning to the UK in 2003. He moved to London to join ex-Wembley Head Groundsman, Steve Tingley, working with him at Twickenham, London Irish and Pennyhill Park.
Mike has also had an interesting spell working overseas, moving to Auckland in 2005 as Turf Manager for recreational services and later in Australia before being offered a job at Merchant Taylors School in 2007.
For Mike, life as a Grounds Manager at Harrow is a busy one. Set over 324 acres, the school boasts 16 pitches, two new synthetic / 3G pitches, a nine-hole golf course and nine cricket pitches. There is also a working farm, woodland and a fishing lake to tend to, along with many public rights of ways – all of which need to be maintained.
Mike is looking forward to attending the Turf Business Summit from the 14th-16th October. Once there, he will have the opportunity to meet 50 invited delegates from across the turf industry and tour Real Madrid’s impressive facilities, as he adds: “I think it will be nice to do some further networking and meet new people and share my experiences and ideas. I’ll also be happy to vent out a few frustrations about the industry!”
Congratulations and we look forward to seeing Mike in Spain for some serious turf talking, debating and networking.
