Our Story – Bedfordshire Plumbing & Heating Experts Bedfordshire
Discover how Christy Plumbing & Heating Ltd grew from a one-man operation in Bedfordshire to a trusted team of 12 delivering expert plumbing & heating services.
Christy Plumbing & Heating Ltd is now one of Bedfordshire’s most trusted and recommended plumbing and heating companies, employing a team of twelve and delivering expert services to homes, schools, landlords and commercial sites across the region.
But our journey didn’t begin with a large team or a fleet of vans — it started with curiosity, hard work, and the power of a good reputation.
Where It All Began – The Story of Lawrence Christy
Our founder, Lawrence Christy, was born and raised in Elstow, Bedfordshire, in a council house. From a young age, he was curious about how things worked – often taking apart clocks just to put them back together. Though school wasn’t for him, he was never shy of hard work and had a milk round, and he soon found his path as an apprentice at Brookways Engineering, where he became a skilled fabricator and sheet metal worker.
During the 1980s boom, Lawrence worked on major projects like Tesco supermarkets, often alongside plumbers. It was there he discovered his true calling and later joined Corby’s, one of the region’s leading plumbing contractors.
Years of working with various local Bedfordshire plumbing companies followed — each one helping him refine his skills and build a reputation for craftsmanship and reliability.
Then came a call to investigate a heating issue at a house in Riseley in 2000 — a job that would change everything.
Meet Sarah – From the Arts to Boilers
Sarah Gee, also born in Bedford and raised in council flats and houses in Putnoe, followed a very different path. Sarah did well at school, and after studying Media at Stirling University, she pursued a career in events management, producing shows for bands and comedians, including Wet Wet Wet, Harry Enfield and Steve Coogan.
After some time in South Wales with Garden Festival Wales, she returned to Bedford as an Arts Officer (working on local favourites like the Bedford River Festival and Proms in the Park). She pivoted into leadership with The Body Shop, managing over 250 people across the Midlands and Wales.
That same house in Riseley that Lawrence visited for plumbing? Sarah’s home. And it wasn’t long before pipes turned into a partnership — both in business and in life.
From Sole Trader to Trusted Local Business
Lawrence became a sole trader, and Sarah helped him out with admin. One job turned into many, and by 2010 they officially founded Christy Plumbing & Heating Ltd. From their home in Clapham, Bedfordshire, the company grew steadily — not with gimmicks or shortcuts, but with honest service, quality work, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Today, we’re proud to have a team of twelve skilled professionals, all committed to the same principles that started it all.
What We Stand For
We’re more than a plumbing and heating company. We’re a team that genuinely cares about doing things properly — and making our community better through the work we do. We believe in:
Giving opportunities to young engineers
Working with integrity, honesty and respect
Producing high-quality work we can stand behind
Ongoing learning and training to stay at the top of our game
Looking for a Local Plumbing & Heating Company in Bedfordshire?
We’d love to help with your project — whether it’s a boiler service, a heating upgrade, or a full bathroom refurbishment.
Based in Clapham, we serve:
Bedford, Kempston, Riseley, Elstow, Bromham, and across Bedfordshire