Meet the Edwin Thompson Team

Alan Young MNAEA

Property Manager

Alan joined the Edwin Thompson team after working in the Property Department of a Borders firm of Solicitors for 8 years. He currently manages the Property Department and all Estate Agency matters in the central Borders and is always on hand to advise clients on all things property based. Alan has successfully passed a course set by The National Federation of Property Professionals and has gained a Scottish Technical Award in the Sale of Residential Property. Alan is now studying for an AssocRICS course to become a registered valuer on his pathway to becoming a Surveyor. Outside of work Alan enjoys field sports, training his dog and walking throughout the stunning Scottish Borders countryside.

Alex Isle

Property Management

Alex has been involved in many aspects of the Carlisle office over the years, currently assisting with Residential Lettings.  She enjoys a varied and challenging role dealing direct with clients and tenants, handling enquiries, inspecting and advertising properties, arranging viewings, processing applications, preparing Tenancy documentation and dealing with any issues thereafter.  Alex is also a key member of our team who is responsible for planning, organising and setting up our hospitality stands during the agricultural show season.

Coming from a farming family in Dumfriesshire, Alex joined Edwin Thompson in July 2006 after leaving school.  At home she enjoys spending time with her horses, dogs and husband to be!

Ali McTavish

Graduate Rural Surveyor

Ali is a graduate rural surveyor who joined the team in November 2019 after graduating from Scottish Rural University College (SRUC) with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Rural Business Management. From a young age, Ali had an interest in the agricultural sector through growing up in the countryside and assisting with livestock on a range of holdings in her later years. Realising this was a career she wished to pursue she enrolled in SRUC in 2015. Ali is involved in many aspects of the firm’s work including property management, residential sales, countryside stewardship & agri-environment schemes, mapping, forest and woodland management, utilities and valuation work. She is a member of the South of Scotland Border Valuers Association, a probationary member of SAAVA and currently studying towards her APC. In her spare time Ali enjoys attending young farmers, keeping fit, being outdoors and embarking on various hill climbs in the borders and highlands.

Alice Dickinson

Property Management/Residential Lettings Assistant

Amy Wilkin

Property Manager

Andrew Hamilton MRICS

Partner & Chartered Surveyor

Andrew Hamilton is a qualified Chartered Surveyor who joined Edwin Thompson in February 2015 having previously worked with Sentry Limited in the South of England as a Land Agent and Farm Business Consultant. Previous employers have included working with Thomson Roddick & Laurie in Dumfriesshire and Moray Estates in Moray.

Andrew’s expertise include estate management, farm management, planning and development, dispute resolution, agricultural valuations, land and rural property valuations. Andrew is a RICS Registered Valuer and a RICS Accredited Mediator. He undertakes mediations which have included dealing with business contractual issues, land disputes and employment disputes. He is regularly asked to help resolve disputes on an informal basis or prevent matters escalating into a dispute.

Andrew was brought up on the family farm in Berwickshire and by joining the Berwick office is returning to his roots, having left the area after graduating from the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester with a BSC (Hons) in Rural Land Management. Andrew’s hobbies and interests include salmon and trout fishing, gardening, watching sport including going to rugby internationals and horse racing meetings.

Becky Swain

Property Manager

Ben Anderton

Forestry Manager

Ben started at Edwin Thompson in 2014, having previously worked as assistant to the head forester at the Lowther estate, and now manages woodland throughout Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham. Ben is a graduate of Forestry and Woodland Management from the University of Cumbria.

Whilst he is involved with all aspects of woodland management, Ben specialises in Woodland Management Planning for clients and leads on client applications for new planting grants, and the subsequent design and delivery of these new woodland schemes. Ben has also qualified as a Professional Tree Inspector and leads on dangerous tree assessment and subsequent advice for clients. Ben is an active member of the Institute for Chartered Foresters, and in 2018 gained chartered status.

In his spare time Ben is a keen walker and cricket follower.

Caitlin Ladhams

Receptionist/Secretary to John Haley

Charlotte Clayton

Assistant Surveyor

Chris Slinger BSc (Hons)

Assistant Rural Surveyor

Chris has a passionate interest in the well being of the rural community and the protection of the countryside environment. He firmly believes in the importance of sustainable economic development for the rural sector and is keen to engage all sections of the community into gaining a better understanding of the environment, its protection and its potential.

Having joined Edwin Thompson in 2009 Chris is based in the firm’s Carlisle office but acts for clients over a wide area. He is involved with GIS Mapping, Environmental Impact Assessments, Planning Applications and the day to day management of estates. He carries out single farm payment applications and provides advice on all aspects of Single Farm Payment and related grant and subsidy schemes including agri-environmental schemes. He also advises clients on renewable energy projects including wind, biomass, and hydro developments.

Most recently Chris worked on a flood alleviation scheme for an estate in county Durham. He has also recently undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment for a forestry plantation on a showcase estate in Western Scotland and carried out a portfolio valuation for a leading infrastructure, transport and real estate investment company.

Chris studied Agriculture and Farm Business Management (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Newcastle. With a family background in farming he has not only a theoretical understanding of agriculture but also practical, hands on experience of managing an estate.

Chris is Chairman of his Parish Council, enjoys rowing and plays for the local cricket club. He previously spent a year coaching and playing cricket in Australia and was captain of his university rowing team.

Christopher Gray BSc BA MRICS FAAV

Partner Chartered Surveyor

Christopher joined Edwin Thompson in August 1991, based in the firm’s Carlisle office. He went on to become a partner in the business in 2000 with special interest and expertises in Estate Management and Agricultural matters with a wide client base ranging from traditional agricultural estate owners to other private sector clients. Recently he has advised on a number of acquisitions of agricultural estates and farms in the north of England.

Key Skills

• Specialising in estate, rural property and farm acquisitions and disposals
• Negotiation of best prices and acting on behalf of both vendors and purchasers
• Management of rural estates and property, maintaining and increasing returns for property owners whilst maintain good Landlord and Tenant relationships.
• Valuations of all types of rural property assets for specialist purposes, especially for secured lending and taxation.
• Renewable energy significant experience in large scale wind farm developments negotiating and lease arrangements.
• Compulsory purchase- experience with all types of acquiring authorities regarding all aspects of compulsory purchase.
• Agricultural Landlord and Tenant disputes.

Christopher is also a RICS registered valuer.

Christopher is a graduate of Cambridge University where he read land economy and a graduate of the University of London where he read agriculture. He enjoys rural sporting pursuits and hill walking. He is also a keen follower of sport.