The Walker Beak Mason Partnership (WBM) is an independent acoustic consultancy specialising in architectural & building acoustics and environmental and planning noise that began in 1970.

Dr Angus Walker developed the areas of environmental acoustics, in particular the noise aspects of open site working, such as quarries, landfill sites and construction sites, transportation noise and planning appeal work. In 1972 Colin Beak joined WBM and developed the architectural and building acoustics field.

Angus retired in April 2001 and Colin retired in April 2004 but both continued to work for WBM as consultants for several years after retirement and still have regular contact with the Partnership, offering advice on many matters.

Dr Paul Cockcroft, the current senior partner, joined in 1989 to develop further the environmental noise, open site working and planning acoustic fields, followed by Terry Hallett in 1995 to expand the architectural, building acoustic and leisure acoustics expertise.

The partnership continued to expand in these fields with the addition of Rachel Canham, Matthew Sweet, Dr Richard Lyons and Dr Robert Storey.

Terry, as partner in charge of leisure and building acoustics, made a great contribution to WBM, both in terms of the knowledge and expertise he brought to the Partnership but also in his cheerful and humorous approach to life but sadly he died in July 2007. It was a pleasure to work with him and he is greatly missed by us and by many of our clients.