Remembering Gerald Emerton

Gerald Emerton joined his father, Ralph W. Emerton, in the family slating and tiling company (Emerton Roofing) in 1950. He served a craft apprenticeship as a Slater and Tiler, becoming the fourth generation of slater in the family. He went on to build a significant limited company, known nationally for its dedication to excellence and quality heritage restoration. 

During his roofing career, Gerald spent significant periods of his life away from his family business to selflessly help professionalise and drive the standards of his craft on a national and international level. His most significant roles and achievements are as follows:

• Chairman of the North Western Regional Association of the NFRC, 1967–1969.
• Served on the NFRC National Executive and Board from 1974 until 2008.
• National President of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, 1981–1983.
• Chairman of the National Slating and Tiling Committee, 1976–1999.
• Founding Chairman of the National Heritage Roofing Committee, 2005–2010, including the development of the National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register.
• Awarded the NFRC Gold Pin of Honour in 1991 for services to the roofing industry in the UK.
• Awarded Honorary Life Membership of the NFRC in May 2005. 

Gerald was instrumental in developing the NFRC's involvement with the European roofing community. In 1980, he implemented the Redland-supported initiative for the NFRC to join the Europe-based International Federation of Roofing Contractors (IFD), including involvement in its technical committees. 

In recognition of his contribution to roofing across Europe, he was awarded the European Pin of Honour by the International Federation of Roofing Contractors in Budapest in 1993.

Gerald served on British Standards Institution technical committees for many years, continuing his involvement until 2011.

He served as Chairman of Committee B/542, responsible for pitched roof product standards and Codes of Practice, as well as UK input into the European CEN Committee TC128 concerning roofing with products of a discontinuous nature. 

He also chaired Committee B/542/1, responsible for Codes of Practice in slating and tiling, contributing to:

• BS 5534: Part 1 – Design for Slating and Tiling, 1990, 1997 and 2003.
• BS 8000: Part 6 – Workmanship on Building Sites: Slating and Tiling, 1990.

He also served on Committee B/542/7, concerning BS 680 Roofing Slates, and the European CEN Committee TC128/SC8 on Roofing Slates. 

 

 

Heritage Roofing, Training and Education

Gerald was a passionate advocate for the preservation of traditional roofing skills and materials. 

He served on the Executive Committee of the National Heritage Training Group and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Roofing and Heritage Buildings.

He wrote NVQ assessments for the Construction Industry Training Board and authored a series of Slating and Tiling Training Manuals for CITB ConstructionSkills, covering: 

• CTP 036/1 – Common Materials and Methods
• CTP 036/2 – Single-lap Variable Gauge Interlocking Tiles
• CTP 036/3 – Double-lap Variable Gauge Plain Tiles
• CTP 036/4 – Double-lap Fixed Gauge Artificial Slates
• CTP 036/5 – Single-lap Fixed Gauge Interlocking and Mitred Tiles (Pantiles)
• CTP 036/6 – Double-lap Fixed Gauge Natural Slates (NFRC Blue Book)
• CTP 036/7 – Double-lap Diminishing Courses Random Slates

He was also the author of Old Roofings, a reprint of a series of articles originally published in The Roofing Contractor magazine in 1988; The Pattern of Scottish Roofing, written for Historic Scotland and published in November 2000; and The Pattern of Traditional Roofing, self-published in December 2017.

Lecturing and Sharing Knowledge

Gerald was a respected writer and lecturer on the workmanship and technical detailing of traditional roof coverings, as well as the history, manufacture, economic distribution and use of traditional roofing materials.

His lectures on the history of English and Welsh roofing included presentations to:

• Birmingham University
• Cambridge University
• Salford University
• The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers at Hampton Court
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
• The National Heritage Training Group
• The Construction History Society
• Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
• The Architectural Association
• The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers at London Museum
• Weald and Downland Museum 

He also lectured on the history of Scottish roofing at the Institute of Roofing in Glasgow, and on the history and techniques of roofing in the Cotswolds to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the National Trust and English Heritage.

Wider Recognition

Gerald became a Freeman of the City of London in 1998 and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers in the same year.

He was appointed to the National Economic Development Committee (NEDO) for Building for three years from 1985 to 1987, under the chairmanship of Sir Monty Finneston, representing specialist contractors. 

Throughout his career, Gerald oversaw and took a close personal interest in many significant roofing projects undertaken by Emerton Roofing. Of all the achievements he enjoyed during his long career, some of his greatest personal pride came from seeing the quality of the company's craftsmanship recognised through a number of prestigious awards and commendations.

 In particular, Gerald was immensely proud of the following achievements during his chairmanship of Emerton Roofing: 

• 1993 Triennial Award – Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers: Emerton Roofing (Western) Limited was awarded the Triennial Award for the best roof in the Greater London area, presented by the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers, for a new Welsh slate roof at St Paul's New Church, Brentford.
• 1997 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Building Conservation Award: Emerton Roofing (Western) Limited received the RICS Building Conservation Award for the roof slating of Plas Mawr, Conwy, Gwynedd, commissioned by Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments. 

These achievements were amongst Gerald's proudest moments in his career.

Gerald's contributions to the roofing industry and his positive influence will be remembered for generations. NFRC extends our condolences to the Emerton family.