aql HQ Blue Plaque to be Unveiled

LEEDS, England, November 15, 2011 -

aql are pleased to announce that our headquarters (Salem Chapel) has been awarded a Civic Trust blue plaque for its role in shaping the history of Leeds. The plaque is to be unveiled in a ceremony on Thursday 17^th November at 3.30pm.

Salem Chapel opened its doors in 1791 and is the only surviving 18^th century dissenting chapel in Leeds. Dr. Adam Beaumont (Managing Director of aql) bought the building in February 2009, with the vision of creating a modern office environment that retained the original history and feel of the Chapel.

aql are currently working towards bringing the building back to its former glory, which is a long and arduous task but one which Dr. Beaumont deems worthwhile to retain the heritage of one of the city’s finest landmarks.

The Civic Trust award blue plaque’s to buildings which meet the following criteria:

• The building commemorated must be of very special importance in the history, heritage or shaping of Leeds.
• Must have a prominent and physically suitable structure on which the plaque can be erected. There needs to be a strong association between the structure and the subject of the plaque.
• There must be a sponsor or group of sponsors prepared to meet the cost of the plaque.

Having satisfied (and exceeded in most cases) all of these requirements, the plaque will be unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Reverend Alan Taylor at the ceremony.

Trust Director Dr. Kevin Grady said: “There are many reasons why we felt it was right for this important chapel to receive a plaque and its connection to Leeds United is one of them.

“When the chapel was first built in the 18th century it stood next door to the Leeds Theatre but it had fields behind and to the south. Its location was very prominent because it was close to Leeds Bridge, which at the time was the principal gateway to the town from the south. The people who worshipped there would have been significant members of the community, arriving in their carriages. But with industrialisation the chapel came to serve the working classes of Hunslet, and it was its key role in the community which enabled it to remain a place of worship right to the end of the 20^th century.”

One of Salem’s most famous reverend’s, Rev. Harry Guntrip, who held the last ever sermon at the Chapel in the 1950’s, was also a published author of many psychoanalysis studies and books during World War 2. He was renowned for his work on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which aql continue to be actively involved in. aql currently sponsor an Army veteran suffering with PTSD (Simon Buckden) who is currently running 100 marathons in 100 weeks to raise awareness for PTSD sufferers.

Simon Buckden said of aql “I am very happy to be supported by aql and also to be associated with a company based in my home city.  The challenge that I have set myself is huge and so having aql as a sponsor has helped in many ways and I am very happy to work with them”

Notes to Editor :

About aql: aql, established in 1998, is a UK regulated telecommunications operator. aql specialise in providing secure, reliable wholesale access to fixed, mobile networks to government, enterprise and to innovators.

aql® is a registered trademark and device of (aq) limited.

aql.com

Press Contact: Dan Ray (Marketing Officer, aql)
Tel: +44(0)1133-20-30-85
Email: Dan.ray@uk.aql.com

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