Vernon Carter
Managing Director

Vernon began his working career as an Indentured Building Student with Shepherd Construction and on completion of his training took up a position within the Estimating department. Vernon gained greater knowledge and experience of the construction industry by working for some of Yorkshire’s major Contractors and in 1995 was invited to join William Anelay as Chief Estimator/Surveyor.

In 2002 Vernon became the company’s Commercial Director and now holds the role of Managing Director driving the firm’s strategic direction with direct involvement in its commercial operations including estimating, marketing, new business development and customer services/relations.

Vernon is proud to be a member of an organisation that “is involved in preserving the nation’s built heritage and one that helps breathe new life into old buildings”. Vernon is keen to emphasise that William Anelay has the aspiration through developing partnerships with suppliers, customers and stakeholders to become the ‘Contractor of Choice’ with resources in place to work at a national level.

Vernon is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB), of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), the Architecture and Surveying Institute (MASI) and holds a MBA.

Charles Anelay
Special Projects Director

Charles graduated from University College, London with a BSc in Architecture Planning Building and Environmental Studies and an MSc in Building Economics and Management. After several years in London working on a number of prestigious office refurbishments, Charles returned to the family business and has been involved in a working capacity with the firm since 1985.

As the firm has grown and developed, Charles’ roles have changed – Contracts Manager, Contracts Director, Joint Managing Director, Managing Director, and now Special Projects Director.

He is therefore a bit of an all rounder, but his particular enthusiasms are for the technicalities of what the company does and the challenges of producing top quality work, that will stand the test of time.

Charles remains a key member of the senior management team and is pleased that the business has retained the original family name. Along with the name comes a strong sense of history and tradition of a business that has been involved with quality construction and despite its longevity, still has a place in the 21st Century.

Charles has been responsible for overseeing specialist projects including the refurbishment of Studley Royal House, the re-roofing of Harewood House, the masonry repairs of the west front of Selby Abbey, and more recently the construction of a private chapel in the classical style.

Charles has been a member of the Chartered Institute of Building since 1988, is a past Council Member of the Lead Contractors Association, is a guest lecturer for the Conservation Course at the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies in York and is a committee member of the National Heritage Training Group.

Tony Townend
Operations Director

Tony began his career in construction as a Designer and Technical Advisor, moving on to the role of Project Manager for a timber frame construction company. Over the years Tony has gained invaluable experience within the construction industry of working closely with Architects, Clients, Quantity Surveyors, Statutory Suppliers, Subcontractors, direct and indirect labour to identify customer needs in order to maximise resources.

Tony’s position as Operations Director is pivotal to the company’s success, through understanding the importance of meeting deadlines whilst maintaining high standards of quality.

Tony numbers amongst his successes the overseeing of the restoration of Middlesbrough Town Hall Clock Tower, which took place 180 feet above ground level and in a busy town centre location. Other projects include the total renovation of St Peter’s Church at Fleetwood and the renovation and restoration of St Anne’s Cathedral in Leeds.

Tony is a member of the Institute of Directors. In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of sporting interests and is Director of Rugby at Selby RUFC.

Tim Donlon
Technical Director

After completing a BSc in Building Construction at North Trent Polytechnic, Tim worked in the Local Authority sector for a short time followed by the role of Contracts manager with Furse Specialist Contracting.

It was whilst working with Church Conservation that Tim was asked to join the CIOB Building Conservation and Heritage Working Group. Tim went on to join S & J Whitehead as Construction Manager working on restoration and conservation projects involving national organisations including the National Trust.

Tim brought his knowledge and expertise to William Anelay in 1999 taking on the roles of Contracts Manager and then Technical Director. Tim is thrilled that projects he has overseen including 78 Derngate and Blackwell have won RIBA and Civic Trust awards for the company.

Tim firmly believes that “restoration and conservation can work side by side and William Anelay has the experience and know-how to help smooth the way ”.

Tim is a member of Chartered Institute of Building and has contributed to published works including Lightning Protection of Historic Buildings, Conservation Directory 1997 and Works to Historic Buildings, Chartered Institute of Building 1999.

Stephen Brown
Financial Director

After completing a business degree at Sheffield City Polytechnic, Stephen obtained positions in London with British Telecommunications followed by the Virgin Group becoming familiar with large corporate financial operations. Upon returning to Yorkshire, he held finance positions with companies in the Williams Holdings and IMI groups before joining William Anelay in April 2000.

Stephen is responsible for all behind-the-scene activities within the company and for ensuring that strategic plans have a financially sound basis.

Despite his lack of general visibility, Stephen manages to get out on site from time to time and is well known for his straightforward approach to business matters.

Since taking on the role of Financial Director, Stephen has seen significant business growth and believes that the “financial objectives are being consistently met due to a combination of clear direction and a committed workforce”.

Stephen is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.