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Author: Mark Whitfield
Welcome to my site!
After graduating in Computing in 1990, I accepted a position as a programmer at a Runcorn based software house specialising in electronic banking software, namely sp/ARCHITECT-BANK on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop). This was before the internet became more prevalent and so the notion of enabling desktop access to company accounts for inter-account transfers and book keeping was still quite a cutting edge idea (and smartphones only ever hinted at in Space 1999). The company was called The Software Partnership (which was taken over by Deluxe Data in 1994).
I spent 5 years in Runcorn developing code for SP/ARCHITECT for various banks like TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank and Girofon (Denmark) to name but a few. I then moved onto a software house in Salford Quays for further bank facing projects. After a further 23 years in the IT industry and now a Senior IT Project Manager (both Agile and Waterfall delivery), I thought I would echo out my Career Profile in this corner of the internet for quick and easy access.
PRINCE2 framework is built on seven core principles
The PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) framework is built on seven core principles that serve as guiding obligations for any project using this methodology. For a project to be considered a “PRINCE2 project,” all seven must be applied.
Continued Business Justification: A project must have a valid reason to start and must remain justified throughout its lifecycle. This is documented in a Business Case, which is regularly reviewed to ensure the project remains viable, desirable, and achievable.
Learn from Experience: Project teams are required to seek out lessons from previous projects and record new lessons as the current project progresses. A Lessons Log is typically used to capture these insights.
Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Every person involved must understand what is expected of them and who is responsible for specific tasks. PRINCE2 defines a clear management hierarchy: Project Board (Direction), Project Manager (Management), and Team Manager (Delivery).
Manage by Stages: Projects are broken down into manageable chunks called management stages. Each stage acts as a “stop/continue” decision point for the Project Board to assess progress before committing more resources.
Manage by Exception: Senior management (Project Board) only intervenes when the project deviates beyond agreed tolerances for time, cost, quality, scope, risk, or benefits. This empowers the Project Manager while ensuring efficient use of executive time.
Focus on Products: The methodology prioritizes the definition and delivery of high-quality products (outputs) rather than just completing activities. Product descriptions specify the quality criteria and requirements for each deliverable.
Tailor to Suit the Project: PRINCE2 is not a rigid “one-size-fits-all” approach; it must be adapted to the project’s specific scale, complexity, and environment. Tailoring ensures that the controls are appropriate for the level of risk involved.
Towyn is a prominent seaside resort in Conwy, North Wales, traditionally known as a tourism hub with a high concentration of holiday parks and a history defined by its relationship with the Irish Sea. Historically, the town is most noted for the catastrophic 1990 floods, which reshaped local coastal defence policy across Britain. Today, it continues to evolve as a key destination for family holidays, with multi-million-pound investments in leisure facilities planned through 2026.
Historical Timeline of Towyn
Early Origins & Parish Formation (1800s)
1800s: Towyn begins developing as a tourism destination, largely due to its proximity to the established hub of Rhyl.
17 June 1873:St Mary’s Church, designed by renowned architect George Edmund Street, is consecrated. It is famous for its distinctive roof tiling.
22 September 1873: The Parish of Towyn is officially created, comprising the township of Towyn and parts of Cegidog Isaf, Bodoryn, and Bodtegwal.
Tourism Growth & Mid-Century Development (1900–1980s)
Early 1900s: The town’s reputation as a “sunny coastline” (from the Welsh word Tywyn for sand dunes) solidifies it as a popular holiday spot.
29 July 1960:Towyn Development Co. Limited is incorporated, marking a period of formalized commercial development in the area.
1960s–1980s: Continued expansion of caravan and holiday parks, making tourism the town’s primary economic engine.
The 1990 Flood Disaster & Recovery
26 February 1990 (11:00 AM): A 400-metre breach of the sea wall occurs due to a 1.5m storm surge, gale-force winds, and high tides.
February – March 1990: Approximately 2,800 properties are flooded across 10 square km; up to 6,000 residents are evacuated.
1 March 1990: Prince Charles and Princess Diana visit the disaster site.
Post-1990: Massive reconstruction of coastal defences begins, utilizing massive rock revetments to absorb wave impact.
Modern Era & Future Outlook (2010–2026)
2011 Census: Towyn’s population is recorded at 2,380.
November 2022:Tir Prince Raceway Ltd purchases the freehold of its 50-acre fairground and race track site, securing long-term investment for the town’s tourism.
August 2023: The Towyn and Kinmel Bay Place Plan is published, focusing on collaborative action for “placemaking” and sustainable transport.
April 2024: Multi-million-pound expansion plans are revealed for major holiday parks, including new leisure complexes.
February 2025: The town marks the 35th anniversary of the 1990 floods with reflections on coastal resilience.
March 2026: Target date for completion of several holiday park upgrades, including new high ropes courses and state-of-the-art leisure facilities.
Towyn overview and detailed annotated timeline history by era and year to 2026
Llandudno, often called the “Queen of the Welsh Watering Places,” is a prominent seaside resort on the Creuddyn Peninsula in North Wales. Planned specifically as a mid-Victorian holiday destination, the town is renowned for its well-preserved 19th-century architecture, sweeping promenade, and the towering limestone headland of the Great Orme.
Town Centre, photo taken March 2026
Historical Timeline by Era
Ancient & Medieval (Prehistory – 1800s)
Bronze Age (c. 2000 BCE): Extensive copper mining begins on the Great Orme; these are now recognized as the world’s oldest known copper mines.
6th Century: St Tudno establishes a church on the Great Orme, giving the town its name (“Church of Saint Tudno”).
1284: King Edward I conveys the Manor of Gogarth to the Bishop of Bangor.
Early 1800s: Kashmiri goats are introduced to the Great Orme, later becoming an iconic symbol of the town.
The Victorian Transformation (1840 – 1901)
1840: St George’s Church is built to serve the growing village.
1848: Architect Owen Williams presents development plans to Lord Mostyn to turn the marshlands into a resort.
1858: The railway branch line from Llandudno Junction opens, making the resort accessible to wealthy tourists from Liverpool and Manchester.
1862: The Great Orme Lighthouse is built by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
1877/1878: The Llandudno Pier opens (700 metres long) and the Marine Drive carriage road around the Great Orme is completed.
1887:Happy Valley is gifted to the town by Lord Mostyn for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
1890s: A large Jewish community settles in Llandudno, escaping persecution in Eastern Europe.
Modern & Contemporary (1902 – 2026)
1902: The Great Orme Tramway—the UK’s only cable-operated street tramway—opens.
1914–1918 (WWI): Hotels are converted into hospitals; the 1st (North Wales) Brigade is headquartered here.
1940–1945 (WWII): The town hosts the Coast Artillery School and becomes a haven for those escaping the London Blitz.
1956: The electric tramway service to Colwyn Bay closes.
1963:The Beatles perform in Llandudno; the Welsh National Eisteddfod is held in Happy Valley.
1986: The first Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza is held to celebrate the town’s heritage.
1994/2006: The North Wales Theatre opens, later expanded and renamed Venue Cymru.
2017: A new lifeboat station is completed on the North Shore.
2022: Llandudno officially twins with Champéry, Switzerland.
2023–2026: Venue Cymru becomes the permanent home for the Welsh Open snooker tournament (February).
2026 (Scheduled):
February: Nick Beer 10K (Feb 15) and Welsh Open Snooker (Feb 23–Mar 1).
May: Victorian Extravaganza and Transport Festival (May 2–4).
June: Llandudno Triathlon & Duathlon (Jun 28).
Wetherspoon pub reopens on 22nd August 2001 – photo as of March 2026
The Palladium in Llandudno, a Grade II listed building, was transformed into a JD Wetherspoon pub in 2001. The following timeline outlines its history from its origins as a grand theatre to its current use.
The Palladium Timeline
1920: The Palladium Theatre opens on the site of the former 1894 Market Hall. Designed by Arthur Hewitt, it originally featured 1,500 seats across three levels: stalls, dress circle, and balcony.
1972: The building is subdivided for multi-purpose use. Bingo is introduced in the former stalls area, while a 600-seat cinema occupies the circle area.
1999: The venue, then owned by Apollo Leisure, officially closes on 8th September.
2000: The building is purchased by JD Wetherspoon for conversion into a pub.
2001: Following a restoration project that returns the auditorium to a single open space, the Wetherspoon pub reopens on 22nd August – see picture above taken March 2026.
2012–2013: A significant restoration of the exterior is completed to maintain the building’s historic facade.
2024–2025: Wetherspoon invests approximately £1 million in a major refurbishment, focusing on the preservation and restoration of the heritage ceiling and the proscenium arch.
Visiting The Palladium
Location: Gloddaeth St, Llandudno LL30 2DD
Type: Wetherspoon Pub in a converted Grade II listed theatre.
Features: Retains original theatrical character including painted ceilings, balcony details, and original seating.
Hours: Generally open from 8:00 am daily, closing at midnight or 1:00 am on weekends.
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a management philosophy introduced by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt in his 1984 bestselling business novel, The Goal.
At its core, TOC operates on a simple premise: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In any complex system—be it a manufacturing plant, a hospital, or a software team—there is always one specific constraint (bottleneck) that limits the system from achieving more of its goal. If you improve anything other than that constraint, you are wasting your time.
The Five Focusing Steps
TOC uses a rigorous five-step process for continuous improvement:
Identify the constraint.
Exploit the constraint (ensure it doesn’t waste time).
Subordinate everything else (align the whole system to support the constraint).
Elevate the constraint (invest in more capacity if steps 2 and 3 weren’t enough).
Repeat (prevent inertia; find the next bottleneck).
Annotated Timeline of TOC Evolution
1979 – Optimized Production Technology (OPT): Goldratt introduces OPT, a scheduling software that challenged traditional cost accounting by focusing on throughput.
1984 – The Goal Published: Goldratt pivots from software to education. He uses a fictional story to introduce the Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) method and the concept of “Throughput Accounting.”
1990 – The Haystack Syndrome: This marks the shift toward formalising TOC metrics: Throughput (money coming in), Inventory (money stuck inside), and Operating Expense (money going out).
1994 – It’s Not Luck: Goldratt introduces the Thinking Processes (TP)—a set of logical tools (like the Current Reality Tree) used to solve complex problems and overcome resistance to change.
1997 – Critical Chain: TOC is applied to Project Management. This introduced “buffers” at the end of project paths rather than individual tasks, drastically reducing project durations.
2003 – Strategy & Tactic (S&T) Trees: A framework developed to synchronise large-scale organisational change, ensuring every action aligns with the ultimate goal.
2000s–Present – Throughput Economics: Integration of TOC with Lean and Six Sigma (often called TLS) becomes the gold standard for high-performance manufacturing.
Theory of Constraints (TOC) Overview and Timeline History
PROject Templates 