In 2000 Alan bought and moved into a 16th Century timber framed cottage. That inspired a desire to find out how best to maintain and care for that complex entity: a historic building.

Understanding how traditional buildings perform, learning and practising craft skills, undoing earlier damaging work and undertaking conservative repairs led unexpectedly to wider involvement in building conservation.

Alan now operates a consultancy in historic building conservation, dealing principally with timber framed buildings. His qualifications include MSc in Timber Building Conservation with merit from Bournemouth University and the RICS Diploma in Conservation of the Historic Environment, also awarded with merit.