Meet the Team

Gary Paice- Managing Director

I am a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 30 years experience in the local Extension & Home Improvement market. My father trained as as an Architect & from an early age I drew my own house designs, and built them in Lego! After graduating from Reading University with an honours degree I worked in Surveying practices for several years before venturing out on my own.

I support Reading FC, and enjoy Photography, Guitars & Golf!

My favourite place on earth is Anna Maria Islands, Florida. I enjoy a good curry!

I built this web site from scratch

The Project Management,Design & Administration Team

Is that a Meerkat, or a funny ear!?

Kim - Director/Project Manager

Kim started out with plans to be a Chef. Worked in Drainage/CCTV for many years then joined Crownwood.

Highly practical & a great problem solver.

Loves Cooking, Football (Liverpool), Photography & Golf. Favourite Film:

It's a wonderful life (James Stewart)

Favourite places: Yorkshire (the place not the pudding.

Favourite song: Sitting on the dock of the bay (Otis Redding)

Favourite meal: Toad in the hole with Mash & Gravy. A good curry.

Laura - Accounts & Admin

Laura joined Crownwood in 2011 having spent time previously looking for her niche. She has had a wide variety of experiences, including working as a Veterinary Nurse, Childcare, and as a trainee Kitchen Designer for another Surrey based company.

Since joining Crownwood she has trained in CAD design, and most recently achieved Accountancy qualifications & now runs or computer based Sage Accounting system. Does everything 100% full on! Loves cooking, physical activity including Netball & much more!

(Photo following a charity event!)

Gareth - Carpenter/Fitter

Gareth loves working with wood & food! He joined Crownwood in 2004 having left an Art course at College. He enjoyed creativity, but the structure of academia less so! Trained in Carpentry he has established himself as our go to guy for Kitchen installation.

He enjoys working with with wood in his spare time creating amazing furniture & other pieces. He is one half of the “Paice Brewing Co” producing quality beers. He is also a passionate & accomplished cook. He enjoys fishing & music too.

14 Years on the Crownwood team.

Carpenters & Electricians (and much more)

Paul (Wedge) - Carpenter

Paul joined Crownwood in 2006. We quickly appreciated Paul’s versatility & all round skills. As well as working with wood Paul carries out Plumbing & Ceramic Tiling, and indeed anything you throw at him.

He completes full Bathroom refits start to finish on his own. A great all rounder & huge asset.

He supports Queens Park Rangers FC, and enjoys 5 a side football, cycling & F1

He lists “Love & Affection” by Joan Armatrading as his favourite song, and “Nepalese” as his go to food.

Matt B - Carpenter

The latest recruit to the Crownwood team. Although he has been working for us as a while on & off when we were stretched. We decided it was time to formalise the union!

He will be a great asset.

Loves Golf. Father to two wonderful children & a great husband we are sure!

Pictured left with his latest addition, his son Seve. Now if he is not a Golfer in the making we would be very surprised!

Chris P - Electrician/All rounder

Chris joined Crownwood having dabbled with College, and like his brother, decided it was not for him!  Too much of a free spirit!

Started as an apprentice Carpenter & completed that training, and worked as such for a while. But he fancied something different. Retrained as an Electrican, and has clearly found his thing!

The other half of the “Paice Brewing Co.” Loves sport, and all things American, including Alyssa his new wife from New England.

Chris (Louie) - Electrician/All rounder

Chris joined Crownwood in 2015 as an Electrician, having retrained. Left school and joined the army, and finished up in the Royal Military Police. Saw action in Iraq & Afghanistan. After a spell of security work in the Middle East he gravitated towards the construction industry. Another “Gooner” (Arsenal fan to the uninitiated). Loves active sports including squash, running & generally keeping fit. A very keen fisherman too. A really nice guy to have on the team.

Robert - Carpenter

Robert is the youngest member of the team, currently completing his final year of his Carpentry apprenticeship. It has been great to watch Robert grow in confidence & discipline in the last few years.

He lists Video games amongst his interests. Loves the film “Legend”, and has Pasta as his favourite meal.

Follows Chelsea FC

Paul T - Foundations & Brickwork

Over 25 years experience, and still loves coming to work every day, rain or shine!

Paul organises the team that usually arrives on day one of an extension project. Passionate about his football & fishing. Spends his Monday nights chasing much younger legs round a 5 a side pitch, still hoping that he will get spotted by Arsenal Much to his wife's embarrassment. An ideal evening out involves a cold beer, and a seat by the pond, with the BBQ on the go. He lists his favourite pastimes as home improvements, gardening, eating, drinking & going on holiday!

His favourite place is Florida.

Matt H - Bricklaying

Bio to follow

Dan - Foundations & Brickwork

Football & fitness are Dan’s passion, although he says he really enjoys working too! He is certainly a reliable, keen & hard working member of the team with an easy going disposition.
His teams are Manchester United & Ash United, one of which he actually plays for ….

He likes to eat healthy too. Chicken, pasta & a “sprnkling of Veg”apparently does it for him.

Enjoys cycling, and used to cycle all the way in from  Ash in the summer months. No mean feet!

Jess the Cocker

Trained as a Gundog & as a Drug & Bomb disposal operative …. In her dreams!

Interests: Sleeping, Tail wagging. Long walks, Sniffing things

Favourite Film: 101 Dalmatians, Lady and The Tramp!!!

Favourite places: Under Laura's desk. Horsell Common, Half way up the stairs on the half landing (at home) Makes her feel "above" everyone else.

Favourite song: "Who let the dogs out!" "Get by with a little help from my friends" (Joe Cocker (no relation))

Favourite meal: Lamb & Vegetable mix, a good chew, and a cup of tea.

Special Teams

Henry Hoover - Site Cleaning

Been with Crownwood quite a while now, as you can see. Originally trained as an all round carpet cleaner & wet specialist. Now our top dust extraction & collection operative. Loves a bit of good clean fun. Bit of a sucker for a dirty carpet.

Favourite Film:

Gone with the wind. Dirty Dancing. Dirty Harry............ you get the picture.

Favourite places:

Any dusty spot. Never happier than when he is up to his eyes in muck.

Favourite song:

Bob the Builder. Anything by Dusty Springfield.