At New Forest Fencing, our leadership team combines decades of heritage with the technical rigour required for the UK’s most demanding Tier 1 construction projects. Unlike consolidated national providers, our Owners and Directors are hands-on, ensuring that every project – from high-security aviation or Ministry of Defence fencing, to complex and beautiful automated gate systems – is delivered with direct accountability and precision.
Our management team is driven by a simple mission: to be the most trusted, safe pair of hands in the fencing and gates industry. By maintaining Constructionline Gold, SMAS Worksafe, and Acclaim accreditations, we provide our clients with the financial stability and health and safety excellence they expect from a market leader.
Jack Wateridge, Owner
Wholesale, Trade & Production
Jack drives the supply side of the business, overseeing our workshops, steelwork production, and nationwide deliveries. Whether he’s managing key accounts or streamlining manufacturing, Jack provides a grounded, down-to-earth service. When working with Dan and Jack, you can expect a partnership built on authenticity and good humour – a straightforward, human approach to business that makes complex projects easier to navigate.
Dan Wateridge, Owner
Commercial Supply & Installation
Having grown up in the business – transitioning from hands-on site work to managing our largest commercial projects – Dan leads our installation and automated gate divisions. He brings positivity and “can-do” energy to every brief, ensuring that Tier 1 quality and rigorous safety standards are always delivered with a smile and direct accountability.
Darren Wateridge, Chairman
Operations
Having stepped back from the day-to-day frontline, Darren now focuses his decades of experience on overseeing our yard operations. He ensures the “engine room” of New Forest Fencing remains a slick, organised, and efficient environment for our staff and fleet.
Michael Wateridge
Customer Service
Now operating in a senior advisory capacity, “Midge” ensures our commitment to the customer remains at the heart of everything we do. He oversees our service standards, ensuring that the familiar, supportive approach our clients love is maintained across every department.
David Wateridge (‘Grandad’), Founder
The Original Craftsman
In 1965, our story began with one man, a van, and a commitment to fitting the best garden fencing in the forest. While the business has grown into a Tier 1 commercial specialist, Grandad remains our North Star for quality and humility. He still joins us every Thursday – usually armed with a homemade lemon drizzle cake, sausage rolls, or a fresh pot of coffee -reminding us that no matter how big the project, we are still a family business at heart.
Chloe Wateridge, Accounts
Finance & Administration
The glue that keeps our relationships with staff and suppliers strong, Chloe manages our accounts with precision. She ensures that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes through prompt payments and organised financial management.
Kirstie Wateridge, Head of Marketing
Strategy & Growth
Kirstie joined us in 2024 following a successful career in the agency world. She translates our heritage into modern campaigns, managing all marketing operations across both our residential and commercial lines to ensure our story reaches the right audiences.
Lee Shirley
Health, Safety & Compliance
Lee ensures our operations serve as a “protective shield” for your business. By implementing robust management systems and SharePoint-backed compliance, he fortifies every project against legal and safety risks. From leading on-site toolbox talks to overseeing yard safety, Lee ensures we are fully compliant across every square metre of our work.
Dean Lancaster
Commercial Manager
A former Managing Quantity Surveyor for a major Principal Contractor, Dean brings a Tier 1 eye for precision to our commercial operations. With deep technical knowledge of fencing systems, he acts as a strategic partner for our clients – frequently identifying cost-effective, high-quality, or more efficient product alternatives that add genuine value to the perimeter.
Andy MaClure, “Maccer”
Residential Contracts Manager
Leading our residential fencing division, ‘Maccer’ combines a positive, approachable energy with a meticulous regard for safety. He ensures that even the smallest residential project is governed by the same rigorous RAMS and risk assessment standards as our multi-million-pound commercial contracts.
Rob Danby-Hammacott
Commercial Contracts Manager
Rob leads our commercial installation projects with a focus on seamless execution. Coordinating closely with Dan, Dean and our on-site teams, he manages the complex logistics of project diaries and resource allocation. Rob is known for his proactive approach, always offering positive, practical solutions to ensure every project stays on track and to plan.
Adrian (Ady) Gallagher
Surveyor
A fencer in a previous life, Ady brings invaluable practical experience to the surveying process. Because he has spent years on the tools, he identifies potential site challenges long before they arise, ensuring your project is specified accurately from the start. Ady’s “ground-up” understanding of the trade is the key to a seamless, right-first-time installation.
Dougie Liddell
Head of Steelworks & Fabrications
Affectionately known as “The Wizard,” Dougie possesses an incredible talent for steel fabrication, ranging from intricate ornamental work to robust, practical on-site security solutions. Originally from Zimbabwe, he brings a unique perspective and a wealth of stories to the workshop—if you want to know about life in the remote African bush, he’s your man.
Steve Canning
Yard Manager
As the gatekeeper of our operations, Steve keeps our workshop teams on track and our supply chain moving. He manages everything from complex stock control to incoming deliveries, ensuring we always have the right volume of panels, posts, and gates ready for deployment. Steve is our lead on quality assurance, making sure every item that leaves the yard meets the New Forest Fencing standard.
Paul Lamb (a.k.a “Bert”)
Head of Logistics
“Bert” is the driving force behind our nationwide delivery network. Known for his legendary “Santa” appearances at Christmas and his year-round positive energy, he ensures our products arrive on-site exactly when they are needed. Bert doesn’t just deliver materials; he delivers the genuine, friendly service that has become a hallmark of our business.
James Windebank
Workshop Manager & Master Craftsman
James is our specialist in bespoke timber joinery. He crafts beautiful, custom-made gates from both hardwood and softwood with absolute precision. Whether it’s a grand entrance gate or a intricate garden side-gate, James combines traditional techniques with modern accuracy to deliver a stunning finish every time.
Richard Briant, ‘Rick’
Master Craftsman
With over 45 years at New Forest Fencing, Rick is a true master of his trade and an integral part of the “glue” that holds our workshops together. He approaches every bespoke gate with the utmost care, utilising decades of specialised knowledge to ensure every joint and finish is of the highest quality. Rick’s work is the gold standard of timber craftsmanship.
Mike Grundy
Lead Installer
Mike is an expert in site execution, bringing years of hands-on experience to our most challenging commercial installs. He is a specialist in gate automation and heavy-duty fencing, ensuring that every post and panel is perfectly aligned and fully compliant with site specifications.
Tom Fearn,
Lead Installer
A long-standing member of the New Forest Fencing family, Tom is our “friendly giant.” As a Lead Fencer and Gate Installer, he is known for his calm approach to complex sites and his obsession with a perfect finish. If Tom is on your project, you can be certain the end result will be flawless.
Dan Gilby
Lead Fabricator
Dan is defined by his precision and his “get-stuck-in” attitude. Whether he is meticulously welding in our workshop or performing high-stakes precision cuts on-site, Dan’s focus is always on the structural integrity and finish of the steelwork that leaves our yard.
Cleopas Satsi
Fabricator
Also joining us from Zimbabwe, Cleo is a cornerstone of our workshop team. Always seen with a smile on his face, he is an expert fabricator who combines traditional metalworking skills with a modern understanding of site security requirements. His attention to detail ensures every bespoke gate or panel is built to last.
Rich Grundy,
Lead Commercial Installer
Rich is a vital part of our on-site delivery team, known for his incredible work ethic and versatility. Whether he’s assisting with a bespoke timber install or a large-scale steel perimeter, Rich ensures the groundwork is solid and the site is kept clean and professional.
Cameron Hicks
Lead Commercial Installer
Cameron specialises in the unique demands of high-scale commercial sites. As our Lead Commercial Installer, he is an expert at navigating complex site logistics and ensuring that large-volume fencing and high-security gates are installed with absolute precision and speed.
Max
Lead Installer
Max rounds out our lead installation team with a focus on efficiency and site safety. He is known for his ability to lead a crew through demanding timelines while maintaining the “snag-free” quality that New Forest Fencing is known for.
James Nicholson
Lead Installer
James brings extensive experience in high-security metalwork installation. A specialist in Steel Palisade and all varieties of Mesh Fencing systems, he is known for his precision and speed. James ensures that every perimeter is built to provide maximum deterrence and structural longevity.
Paul McKnickle & John Marsh
Specialist Install Team
As a dedicated partnership within our site teams, Paul and John operate as a seamless unit. They specialise in high-volume commercial installs, from standard palisade to bespoke utility-spec perimeters. Their collaborative approach and shared expertise in SSE-standard fencing make them a “safe pair of hands” for our most demanding site schedules.
Jake Wilson
Lead Commercial Installer
Jake is an expert in delivering large-scale security solutions for industrial and utility clients. With a mastery of all mesh fencing and Steel Palisade systems, as well as anti-burrow technology and high-spec mesh systems, Jake leads his teams with a focus on technical accuracy and site safety, ensuring every install meets the exact engineering tolerances required.
Shane Holbrook
Lead Commercial Installer
Shane is a versatile and highly experienced Lead Installer who takes immense pride in the durability and alignment of his work. Whether he is leading a team through a complex commercial mesh installation or a high-spec timber project, Shane is known for his methodical approach and his commitment to the NFF “right-first-time” philosophy. He is a key mentor for our junior installers and a dependable lead on our most time-sensitive sites.
Ash Canning
Lead Installer
Ash is a highly skilled lead with a deep understanding of the technical requirements for the utilities sector. He specialises in the installation of SSE-specification fencing and complex anti-burrow beam systems, ensuring critical infrastructure sites remain secure and compliant with the most stringent utility standards.
Louise Canning
Office Manager
The engine room of our trade shop, Louise is the primary point of contact for our trade customers and the driving force behind our daily operations. From streamlining admin tasks to keeping the shop floor running smoothly, she ensures that every order and inquiry is handled with the efficiency and care our clients expect.
Paul Lang, a.k.a “Tommy”
Yard Logistics & Lead Operative
Tommy has been an essential part of the New Forest Fencing family since he was 17 years old. With an incredible 48 years of service, he knows our yard and our products better than anyone. A true gentleman and a one-of-a-kind character, Tommy manages our deliveries and forklift operations with a level of care and experience that simply can’t be taught.
Lee Coburn, “Digger Lee”
Head of Groundworks & Clearance
If a site needs clearing or a complex foundation prepared, Lee is the man behind the controls. As our groundworks lead, he ensures that every project starts on a level playing field – literally. Known for his precision with heavy machinery and his “can-do” attitude, Lee is rarely seen without his faithful sidekick, Maggie the Chocolate Springer Spaniel, riding shotgun in the cab. Together, they ensure our sites are prepped, cleared, and ready for a seamless installation.
Without a doubt, the most popular members of the team. Whether they’re greeting trade customers or napping under desks, Reggie, Arlo and Stanley ensure that no matter how busy the day gets, we always have time for a tail wag.
