20 - Alumni Spotlight: Matt Kember
Matt Kember, Class of 1990 After his undergraduate degree, Matt studied for an MSc in Historic Building Conservation and learned about the evolution of architectural style through the ages, looking specifically at the works and influence of Palladio. He joined Paye Stonework & Restoration in 1994, was made a Director in 2008 and Managing Director in 2018. His experience includes the restoration, conservation and repair of many important historical buildings, including award-winning projects that include Battersea Power Station, St Pancras Station, The Mithras Temple, Eton College, Windsor Castle, The Old War Office, The National Gallery, Dover Castle, Reculver Fort, The Palace of Westminster and Pugin’s former home, The Grange, in Ramsgate. We caught up with Matt to hear
Temple of Mithras
about his journey from Trinity to where he is today. What are your memories from your time at Trinity back in the 1980s? How do you think your experiences there influenced your career choices? My overriding emotion when I look back at my time at Trinity is happiness! My first form class, 3P, was full of characters from a variety of backgrounds. We had lots of fun and it was great to see some of them at our recent reunion. Ian Jardine was my history teacher and form master, and it was his passion for history that sparked my love of the subject, resulting in me considering careers with historical links. I remember talking to archaeologists and antiquity companies at the Trinity careers evening.
Sport was my other passion. I represented the school at cricket, rugby and hockey, which I thoroughly enjoyed. After leaving school, I continued to play cricket and some rugby at The Trinity Old Boys Club, where I’ve made many friends over the years. The theme of our alumni magazine is architecture, design and construction, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Shaw Building. Could you tell us about a favourite architectural or design-related project that you’ve worked on? Battersea Power Station jumps out. After seven years of cleaning and repairing the external envelope of the façade, it’s fantastic to see this iconic building restored to its former glory and become a great destination to visit after sitting derelict for so long. Paye Stonework & Restoration is known for its work on historic buildings and iconic structures. Could you elaborate on a particular conservation and repair project? Perhaps our most unique project was the reconstruction of The Temple of Mithras in the City of London. Discovered in 1954 on a WWII bomb site, the Temple ruins are considered to be one of our most important Roman finds. We worked with the Museum of London Archaeology and conservation consultants to make
