Ruby Hazael, centre-stage at Salvo for sixteen years and linchpin of the Salvo Fair, is leaving to start a new project management business with her husband Oli. "It is with much sadness and fond memories of organising Salvo Fair including jumping in lakes, riding ridiculous old bicycles, meeting an extraordinary amount of lovely people and eating many ice creams," she said, "that the time has come for me to move on to new ventures. I have worked with Salvo since I was 15 when I was sending out the old printed Salvo Directory. I took time out at University to help at the very first Salvo Fair in 1997 at Pew Corner, Surrey.  I joined full time in 2001 and became a partner in the business not long after."
 
Ruby stepped into the breach after the death of Salvo co-founder Hazel Matravers in 2002. She helped to create the original Salvo Directory, organised the Salvo Fair, wrote 600 stories for SalvoNEWS, moderated SalvoWEB, met MPs and MEPs including Tessa Jowell who, as minister of culture, recommended that UK dealers join the Salvo Code, and Dr. Caroline Jackson MEP who was responsible for changing European law to prioritise reuse over recycling. Ruby also met industry experts, attended conferences, promoted reuse of architectural antiques and reclaimed building materials at fairs and exhibitions, and spoke to countless journalists to push reuse in magazines, newspapers, TV and radio.
 
Ruby's new business, Hazael Homes, organises building projects and home renovations. "We have just  finished a three-year build ourselves turning a two bedroom bungalow into a five bedroom house on the edge of Bath with amazing views over Little Solsbury hill. Oli is a carpenter with plenty of building experience, and with my management and organisation skills I am hoping we can offer a brilliant service for people looking to move to the Bath area. I am currently helping a couple moving from abroad, renovate a small Georgian flat in Bath, and am about to do a feasibility study for a start up micro-brewery/hospitality business looking to locate itself in Somerset. I would love to take on any projects where clients are interested in salvage and reuse."
 
Ruby said she will miss everyone in the trade enormously and will visit the fair next year to say hello. Meanwhile Shirley Kay will be taking on the management and administration of the Salvo Fair, assisted by Sara Morel who has a newly launched PR consultancy, Reclaimed Woman, which will handle the next Salvo Fair.
 
Reclaimed Woman helps clients delve deeper into the stories behind their business, brands and products, and provides personalised public relations, creative and communication services to clients to ignite awareness, desire and demand across multiple channels. Sara's blog was featured in Reclaim magazine's blog watch and named 'one to watch' by Barbara Chandler of the Evening Standard and House & Garden Sara offers cross-sector expertise with collaborations between luxury fashion, architectural salvage, beauty and charities such as Smart Works and UNICEF.
 
So farewell Ruby, and thanks for everything! We will miss you …