There are double celebrations in St Helens, where two of the most famous names in the area have scored major successes! St Helens Rugby League Club has finished top of the 2006/07 league. The newly crowned super league cup champions are ecstatic after a comprehensive victory over Hull at the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford. At the same time, another victory took place for local glass company, Pilkington who announced a massive ten fold increase in sales of its revolutionary Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass in just one year.

Now in a further link between club and company, St Helens star hooker Kieron Cunningham recently announced his retirement from the international scene and, affording himself the luxury of more space in his Merseyside home, erected a 11 x 5m bespoke split level Edwardian conservatory to house his rugby memorabilia and his beloved pool table. Cleaning such an expanse of glazing may have been a problem, even for the superfit star, but with the installation of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass throughout, Kieran can relax and allow the revolutionary product do all the hard work. “The self-cleaning and solar-control glass is a huge bonus," comments Kieron. “I can easily regulate the temperature which is essential when I’m concentrating on my pool skills! And best of all it means I can spend more time relaxing than climbing up and down a ladder!"

The vertical windows are glazed with Pilkington Activ™ with the roof enveloped in Pilkington Activ™ Blue, a product specifically designed for conservatories.

Activ™ Blue is not only self-cleaning but also has solar control properties that help keep conservatories cooler in summer. Pilkington Activ™ has a virtually invisible dual action coating which reacts with UV rays to break down organic dirt on the surface of the glass and encourage rainwater flow down the glass in an even sheeting effect, preventing rain droplets forming and washing away any remaining dirt.

Thus the concept of self-cleaning glass becomes reality, making Activ™ Blue the perfect conservatory glass.

The units were constructed using the Pilkington Insulight concept, which allows two different types of Pilkington glass to be installed. In the case of Kieron’s extension, Pilkington Activ™ Blue on the outside is coupled with Pilkington K Glass™ to the inner pane, to combine solar control, self-cleaning and thermal insulation in one high performance solution. Local firm Excell Upvc designed and undertook the installation as registered installer of Pilkington Activ™ glass.

Having been involved in the rugby league scene for so many years, Keiron deserves the luxury that his new conservatory brings, and with the help of Pilkington Activ™, he can now relax. With the arduous task of cleaning windows eliminated, his only exertion is with his pool cue!