Former partners of GSS, sitting (l-r) are Vic Crouse, Keith Allsop and Cllr Jim Harker. At the back (l-r) are GSS partners Tom Lyons, Brian Gotch and David Allsop, Dr Roy Hargrave, and GSS partners John Davis, Ian Bray and Will Assheton.

Former GSS partner Cllr Jim Harker was one of the guests of honour at a presentation to commemorate the life and works of architect John Alfred Gotch. Gotch, who became Kettering's first Charter Mayor, was also the first provincial President of the RIBA.

Gotch founded GSS Architecture, which is Northamptonshire's largest practice, in 1879. Today it has offices in Kettering, Northampton and Bristol. To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the practice GSS sponsored a PhD thesis on the Life and Works of John Alfred Gotch. Dr Roy Hargrave, who lives in Geddington, undertook several years' detailed research to produce this comprehensive three-volume account.

Three former partners of the practice, Jim Harker, Keith Allsop and Vic Crouse, were invited to a ceremony at which they were presented with hard-back copies of the thesis to commemorate their time with GSS Architecture. Further copies of the thesis will be presented to the British Library, the RIBA, Kettering Library and the Northamptonshire Records Office.