CHARLTONS MOURN THE PASSING OF CHAIRMAN ANTHONY JAMES “AJ” CHARLTON

It was with great sadness that Charltons recently announced that their chairman Anthony James “AJ” Charlton had passed away.

AJ left school at 14 and went to work in the family business with horses delivering coal and timber. The original family business having been founded by Frank Charlton, in 1903, to supply timber pit props for nearby coal mines. The business was passed to Frank’s son Ferdinand, who expanded further into the coal industry. After Ferdinand, AJ took over the business driving it forward and modernising the equipment. He was later joined by his 4 sons Michael, Peter, David and Adrian who took key roles to support him and helped diversify into gate manufacturing. This has grown from just few oak gates a week to become one of the largest manufacturers of timber gates in the UK, supplying all over the world to a wide variety of customers including the National Trust and many Royal Estates earning Charlton’s the great honour of holding a Queen’s and then a King’s Royal Warrant.

In 2013, aged 83, AJ attended the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace. Aged 84 he was featured on the BBC in a “Working Longer” programme. Always the first in the office, he played an active part in the business during his later years. Even up until recently, AJ was still chairing board meetings via Teams.

AJ was very passionate and proud of the family business, and all who worked within it until the very end. Having reached an incredible age of 95 his interest never waivered. He will be missed.