21 May 2026

Jamie Brickwood steps into new role as Estate Maintenance Manager

Congratulations to our Carpenter and Handyman Jamie Brickwood, who has taken over the role of Benyon Estate Maintenance Manager following the departure of Duncan Urquhart, who is returning home to Scotland after five years in the role.

Jamie has been looking after Benyon Estate properties for more than 25 years, initially as a contractor for the Estate and, since 2012, as a member of staff.  He said he was pleased to be taking on the Maintenance Manager position.

“I won’t be working with tools anymore – it is more of an office-based role and outside when we carry out inspections on contractors’ work,” he said.  “It’s the right time for this transition – it was something I wanted to do and had to do.”

Jamie said maintenance priorities for the coming months included a number of refurbishments of residential properties as they become empty.  “When tenants move on it gives us an opportunity to go in and undertake major improvements,” he said.

“One of the things that tenants of the Estate always say is that Benyon properties are well-maintained.  We have a regular maintenance programme that we stick to, with more substantial work carried out when we are between tenants.”

Outside of work Jamie is a keen runner and is planning a number of runs in the 12 months ahead, including the Southend half marathon in June, another half marathon in September, and several 10k runs.  He has also signed up for the next Brighton marathon – an event he took part in in 2024.

Jamie said: “It is really important, as you get older, to stay active and running is great, not just for your physical health but your mental wellbeing as well.  I really recommend it.  I run with my daughter, Amy.”

There are also strong family connections at work for the Brickwood family. Jamie’s son, also called Jamie, works for the Benyon Estate as a carpenter and will step up to take on his father’s old responsibilities.

Duncan, meanwhile, said goodbye to colleagues at the Estate at a farewell party on Friday May 8 and is moving back to be closer to family in Scotland on the Hebridean island of Tiree.

He worked for the Benyon Estate for five years and was extremely popular with his colleagues and Estate tenants.  He was also closely involved in the De Beauvoir community, taking up the role as a member of the St Peter’s Church clock-winding team last year.

Chris Sacker, a tenant on the estate for more than 30 years, recently had a new kitchen and bathroom installed in his home, overseen by Duncan.  “He’s really good,” Chris said of the former Maintenance Manager, “When I ask him to do something, he always does it.”

Duncan, a talented cyclist who rode for Scotland in the Road Race and Road Time Trial events in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games, also supported local charitable causes while working at the Benyon Estate.