We are very proud of the 45 strong team of enthusiasts at Aston Workshop who work together to restore, rebuild, maintain and improve the wide variety of cars entrusted to us. Below you will meet our different teams within Aston Workshop whose skills and expertise are the reason we are renowned for our outstanding craftmanship, ingenious engineering solutions and unique range of services.
Management Team
Robert Fountain - Owner and Founder
Fraser Fountain - Managing Director
As the son of Aston Workshop Founder and CEO Bob Fountain, Fraser started working for the company from a young age and has lived on site for his whole life. He cut his teeth restoring a Land Rover in a garden shed and then moved onto restoring Aston Martins for the company. Fraser spent some time away from Beamish, living in London and studying mechanical engineering. He then secured a job working in a prestigious supercar garage. Since moving back to Beamish he has worked both in the workshop and the marketing team before taking on the role of Managing Director in 2023.
Workshop Team
John - Workshop Manager
I love my work at Aston Workshop and have worked here for the last 15 years. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the job is that no two days are the same, there's always a fresh challenge to keep you engaged. Prior to Aston Workshop I ran my own business and was the proud owner of an Aston Matin Lagonda from the 1980s. I loved everything about that car, so you can imagine it didn't much deliberation when the opportunity arose here. It has been an absolute privilege to deal with so many wonderful clients from around the world. It really is a hidden gem of a place, a true Aladdin's Cave for enthusiasts.
Neil - Workshop Manager
Neil Calvert has worked at Aston Workshop for 15 years, having previously worked for BMW between 2001-2007 where he completed his apprenticeship. Having spent many years of his childhood in and around Aston Workshop as a result of his father working for the company between the late 1980’s and the early 2000’s, he joined us himself and spent 10 years as a Technician, working on Gaydon era cars (having been factory trained at Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire). Neil then became Assistant Workshop Manager in 2017. He is married with two children and classes cars as a hobby, which gives him a real passion for his work.
Chris - Service Manager
Service Manager Chris Bateman has been in the motor trade for the entirety of his 42-year working life, serving as a Heavy Goods Vehicle Mechanic and rising through the ranks to be Workshop Manager for Mercedes-Benz (Passenger cars). Chris spent 14 years with Mercedes- Benz before moving with his family to the Sultanate of Oman where he looked after the Sultan’s personal vehicles, spending 7 years there. He was first introduced to the Aston Martin marque on his return to the UK and has worked with Aston Martin for 10 years on two separate occasions. Chris is married, and a father. He has a keen interest in motorcycles, football and golf and follows Middlesbrough Football Club.
Tony - Service Technician
Graeme - Service Technician
Geoff - Electrical Technician
Craig - Electrical Technician
Vic - Restoration Technician
Rob - Restoration Technician
Colin - Restoration Technician
Luke - Restoration Technician
Paul - Restoration Technician
Sales & Marketing Team
Alex - Sales Manager
With over 40 years’ experience, sales manager Alex Henderson has previously enjoyed comparable roles at Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, VW, Audi and BMW. The Chester-le-Street native has sold some of the rarest and most luxurious Aston Martins ever produced during his time with Aston Workshop, and remains dedicated to customer satisfaction. Alex is also devoted to his wife, two children and three grandchildren – and wakes up at 5am to walk his Cairn Terriers!
Jack - Marketing Executive
Stuart - Graphic Designer
Dan - Content Producer
Engineering Team
Kelvin - Chief Engineer
Andrew - Engineer
Michael - Junior Engineer
Bodywork & Paint Team
Colin - Foreman Painter
Shaun - Painter
Paul C - Painter
Paul D - Panel Beater
Paul Y - Panel Beater
Parts Team
Darren - Parts Manager
Andrew - Senior Parts Advisor
Louis - Parts Advisor
Bob - Parts Advisor
Accounts Team
Richard - Accounts Assistant
Stephanie - Accounts Assistant
Transport & Valet Team
Rob - HGV Driver
With 15 years of experience driving everything from parcel delivery vans to articulated lorries, Rob heads up the driving team for our transport division. Rob has been driving for Aston Workshop for two years, delivering cars up and down the country. A Sunderland A.F.C fan, he has been local to Aston Workshop since growing up not far from here. A keen interest in all things automotive extends to his hobby of making detailed model cars, and he considers coming to work at Aston Workshop every day a real treat. If you see one of the vehicles from our transport fleet out and about on the nations road, it’ll probably be Rob at the wheel!
Peter - Valeter
