People

Chief Executive and Scientific Director

MA, MSc, Vet MB, MRCVS

Tim studied Statistics, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge followed by an MSc in Aquaculture Pathobiology at Stirling University.

A member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, he worked as a vet in private practice before spending three years as a regular officer in the RAVC undertaking research for the MOD.

 ei@handr.co.uk

Tim joined H+REI in 1987 and since then has built it into the premier specialist surveying company in the UK. Tim founded the study of ‘Building Pathology’, the diagnostic study of building failures to allow proper risk management and remedial specification. Following his work with army sniffer dogs, Tim pioneered the training of dry rot search dogs in the UK (‘Rothounds’).

For several years, he organised the annual international conference, Building Pathology. Tim specialises in the investigation and monitoring of buildings in the built environment, especially after fire and flood, and those involving damp problems, bio-deterioration or health problems.

His particular interest and experience is in the investigation of the failure of historic buildings’ structures and environments, particularly cases involving organic materials, biological, health and environmentally related issues.

Associate Director (Remedial Architecture and Design)

Michael joined H+R in 2005. His work for H+R has included technical consultancy, building inspections for defects caused by damp penetration and the design and specification of remedial details for use by clients and contractors.

Specialist Surveyor & Building Scientist

Andy joined H+R in 2012. Recent areas of work include historic research of buildings and local areas for the inclusion in conservation management plans and national databases, energy management (both building and conservation) and the interpretation of associated data for key buildings in the National Trust’s portfolio, as well as degree day analysis used to help focus future goals and milestones for energy efficiency.

His interest lies in continuing to integrate his scientific background with his interest and knowledge for the conservation of historic buildings and areas. Particular areas of interest are environmental monitoring and building pathology and diagnosis leading to the rectification of building failures.

Senior Building Technician

Clive worked extensively in the building trade specializing in plumbing, heating and roof coverings.

He has been a member of Surrey Fire and Rescue for 36 years, presently as crew manager at his local fire station.

Clive joined H+R in 1978 after being recruited from the team carrying out the restoration of Netley House. Over the past three decades with the firm Clive has worked on every major H+R project.

His wide practical knowledge and experience of the built environment provides a powerful asset to the firm.

Historic Building Defects Surveyor & Wood Scientist

Andrew studied for his BA in Fine Art with the University of Leeds before deciding to become a Traditional Timber Framer and Conservation Carpenter with the Green Oak Carpentry Company in Hampshire.  He completed his MSc in Timber Building Conservation with York University through the Weald and Downland Living Museum in West Sussex.

Andrew Joined H+R in 2018 as a specialist timber surveyor and timber engineer. He specialises in the provision for timber structure analysis and consultancy advice to architects and structural engineers. With years spent as a conservation carpenter and framer he has gained a significant understanding of how the historic built timber environment was fashioned as well as the practical skills and knowledge of how to sympathetically repair, reconstruct and conserve these significant historic structures.

Specialist Surveyor, Conservator and Rothound Handler

BA (Hons), PgD (Cons)

Izzie studied BA (Hons) Conservation and Restoration at the University of Lincoln, her dissertation investigated whether the use of Retrospective Planning applications should be terminated for Listed Buildings. With an interest in wooden structures and working with wood this led to her gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation of Furniture and Related Materials at West Dean College. While studying Izzie specialized in the conservation of decorative surfaces and developed a strong interest in Paint Analysis through conservation courses as well as work experience with Patrick Baty (Historic Paint Consultant).

Izzie joined H+R in 2018 and her interests lie in researching and assessing historical interiors and features in buildings particularly listed buildings for their continued conservation. Izzie has also taken on the role of Rothound handler and works with ‘Pip’ the newest member to the Rothound team.

Specialist Building Surveyor and Conservator

BA (Hons), MSc

Matthew decided to follow scholarship opportunities to the United States for his higher education, completing his BA in History at Reinhardt University and MSc in Historic Preservation at Clemson University and the College of Charleston. During graduate school, Matthew came to specialise in the digital documentation of historic structures and published his graduate thesis investigating three-dimensional modelling within the heritage sector. His other areas of expertise include historic paint analysis and material conservation.

Matthew joined H+R in 2018 as a specialist surveyor and conservator. He investigates damp and decay issues affecting both timber and masonry structures and vulnerable finishes; so as to provide advice to structural engineers, conservators and architects. Matthew is particularly interested in laser scanning, photogrammetry, and three-dimensional modelling.

H+R Rothound Dogs

Rothounds are typically part of an H+R specialist surveying team and operate throughout the UK.  They support H+R surveyors by sniffing out active dry rot (Serpula lacrymans). Dogs of 2-3 years old are best for training as they have lost their puppy behaviour and are still at a stage where they can bond with their handler.

Sprocker Pip was re-homed from a farm in North Yorkshire, and has graduated as a Rothound having passed her initial training.  Pip now currently enjoys her on-going training with her Rothound handler as part of her personal development.  All our Rothound handlers are Dog First Aid trained to ensure the well-being of Rothound dogs.

When looking for potential search dogs we look for dogs with a good scenting ability, a tendency to be single minded and the willingness to work. These are not always the type of dog you would select as a pet but are more natural hunting or working dogs.

Rothounds need to safely operate in the mixed environments found in industrial and historic buildings. They also need to be able to operate in areas where there may be distractions such as people, machines and other operations taking place. The handlers need to be able to carry out a risk assessment for themselves and the dogs, to read the dog’s reactions to a live scent and to interpret how the dog is reacting. Once the location of the scent source is located or narrowed down by the dogs, the handler is able to carry out a professional assessment of the findings using traditional surveying methods

As the dogs become used to their handlers and working in buildings it is interesting to see the dogs actually narrowing down the factors that they attribute to dry rot. They learn to hone in on damp areas (which they associate with their target scent and a reward) and in many cases this can be useful to the handler in identifying other problems

It only takes about two or three weeks to train a dog to locate a specific scent. However, it takes about 6 months to train an H+R Rothound. This dog training does not involve any food rewards as this can cause the dogs to false indicate. Instead training focusses on the searching being part of a big game for the dog and their reward is to play with their training toy and to be praised by their handler.