Chris Woodall
From a young age, Chris had a keen interest in architecture and historic buildings which developed from the early 1980’s in his academic studies in both design and vernacular architecture. Chris joined Hook Mason in 1988 and quickly progressed to become an Associate and then a Director of the Company.
Chris is a team player and is known for managing both consultant and construction teams on large scale projects.
When Chris isn’t bossing everyone around at work, he does much the same at home and pursues numerous interests (too many some say) including design and making fine furniture, watching old British films and messing around with classic sports cars.
Philip Burford
Philip entered the practice as long ago as 1980 initially joining as a trainee technical assistant but subsequently progressing to an associate status and then full equity director a position he held for around some 20 years or so. He has now however relinquished that role and presently holds a position of consultant working within the revised capacity of three day week.
Philip works predominantly within the residential sector most particularly on those properties of an historic or period origin very often undertaking pre-purchase condition surveys that sometimes leading to him overseeing projects of a repair and renovation nature as well as additionally overseeing works of renovation and repair to church buildings.
Philip was additionally retained as Diocesan Surveyor to The Diocese of Hereford as well as The Church of England Pension Board for a period of around 20 years then having direct responsibility for advising and overseeing matters of routine planned or on occasions emergency repair as well as advising on the disposal of unsuitable properties and their replacement with modern and sustainable purpose built buildings.
Outside of work Philip has two grown up daughters and so far one young granddaughter. His hobbies include walking, golf and whilst in his younger days he played football on a competitive basis his main passion is his racing pigeons and a sport with which he has been actively involved with for around 50 years!
Philip Belchere
Philip joined the practice as a specialist conservation architect in 2015 following ten years as Conservation and Urban Design Manager for Shropshire Council. Prior to representing Shropshire Philip held a number of director level posts in the UK and Middle East. Philip’s academic journey began in Oxford Brookes University at the school of architecture, achieving election to the RIBA in 1984 and gaining a post graduate diploma in Urban Design 1990. Continuing his education Philip attended the University of Bath and was awarded a post graduate diploma in the Conservation of Historic Buildings in 2005 followed by a Masters degree in the conservation of the historic environment at the University of Birmingham in 2009. Philip has taught architects and conservation students for 12 years at the University of Birmingham in the reuse and renewal of historic buildings.
Philip enjoys the country life, mountain biking, walking and playing music.
Clive Emerson
Clive joined the practice in 1985 on a YTS scheme progressing through Hereford & Worcester Colleges to achieve HNC in Construction and became an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in 1990. He has progressed through the company for over 38 years to associate at Hook Mason Ltd working on a broad range of projects from extensions through to multi-million-pound projects throughout the county and beyond.
Outside of the office he has explored numerous sports including rock climbing, snowboarding, surfing the Severn Bore, running and advocates cycling everywhere.
Elliott Morton
Elliott joined the practice as a part two architectural assistant in July 2023. He is an enthusiastic Architectural Designer who applies creative solutions to both historic and contemporary projects. He graduated with honours from The University of the West of England, obtaining Bachelor of Science and Master of Science qualifications in Architecture. He is currently working towards full ARB registration and becoming a chartered RIBA member. In addition to construction and architecture, Elliott has spent many years developing his own hand drawing style, which has been endorsed by numerous institutes and to this day are used to form many of his project visualisations. Elliott has recently expanded his design principles to encompass contemporary representations of historic buildings and their elements, in order to allow heritage assets to be developed but refraining from mimicking and detracting from the historic definition. Elliott’s architectural passion also encompasses passive strategies and self-sustaining/off grid designs.
He also enjoys spending time with his family, taking his dog for long woodland walks, and illustrating his interest for utopian and anthropogenic theories.
Kathryn Thomas
Kathryn joined Hook Mason as Practice Manager in 2021. Before joining Hook Mason, she successfully ran a family business for over 16 years and with her business knowledge and experience has become a valuable member of the team. She graduated from Nene College of Higher Education with a degree in Business Administration and Information Systems in 1999.
Kathryn is married with 2 daughters and 2 dogs. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and visiting extended family, family walks with the dogs, reading, skiing and traveling.
Nick Middleton-Jones
Nick is a dedicated Architectural Designer who graduated with honours from the University of Antonio Nariño in Colombia, holding a Diploma of Architecture. With a strong commitment to professional growth, Nick is currently employed at Hook Mason Architects, actively working towards achieving full ARB registration and recognition as an Architect in the UK, as well as obtaining full chartered RIBA membership.
Giselle Middleton-Jones
Giselle is a registered architect by CPNAA (Colombia). She graduated with distinction from the University of Antonio Nariño in Colombia achieving academic excellence. She began her professional work experience in the UK as an architectural assistant at Hook Mason in 2021. She is enthusiastic about disciplines such as BIM modelling and visual communication. At present, she is in the process of attaining her career equivalence in the UK.
In her free time, Giselle finds interest in design in its various forms, including interior design, fashion and collecting architectural samples.
Max
Our Hook Mason mascot, Max, is a 9 year old working cocker spaniel who loves swimming, going for walks and cuddles!
