Board Members

David first went to sea in 1962 with Shell Tankers UK Ltd as a Navigation Cadet. He sailed with the company worldwide as a Navigation Officer until he qualified as Master in 1973. From 1973 until 1979 he worked for the Southampton-based Red Funnel Group as Chief Officer, Master and Hydrofoil Commander before moving to the north-east to become a pilot in Sunderland, gaining a full first class licence in 1982. He moved south again at the end of 1985 to continue as a pilot in Teignmouth and added additional pilot duties for Dartmouth in 1994. He became the Dartmouth Harbour Master in January 2005 and continues to be the senior pilot for the port.

Email: hm@dartharbour.org.uk

Simon was first appointed to the Board in 2005 and elected as Chairman at the January meeting in 2007. Simon has been working on the River Dart for over 25 years and is a director of Baltic Wharf Ltd. He has experience of commercial boat enterprises, is a keen sailor and has owned boats all his life. He also enjoys Hobie Cat racing in Cornwall and in 2006 completed the Two Handed Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Ernest was first appointed to the Board in 2003 and was appointed as Vice Chairman in January 2007. He was brought up in Scotland and attended college in Glasgow and in Brighton. His career has been spent in the food industry and he has recently retired as a Personal Business Advisor for Business Link for Devon. His primary leisure activity is sailing, he is a member of the Royal Dart Yacht Club and he keeps his boat on the River Dart. He lives in Buckland Tout Saints where he is Chairman of the Parish Council. He is also a member of various committees, promoting economic development in the South West. His particular expertise and interest for the Board are communications, marketing, economic development and leisure sailing.

Julian was first appointed to the Board in 2002. He was elected Chairman of the Authority in 2003 and made a valuable contributrion to this post until December 2006. He comes from Dartmouth and his family have been boatmen, of various sorts, on the Dart and, before that, the Salcombe Estuary for many generations. Julian has operated one of the Castle Ferries for the last eighteen years. Until recently Julian was a member of Dartmouth Town Council. Julian brings to the Board particular interests and expertise in small boats, tourism and leisure.

John was first appointed to the Board in 2002 and until December 2006 was Vice-Chairman. He was brought up in Scotland and moved to London in the 1960s. He has had a boat on the River Dart since the 1960s. A professional metallurgist, his career was spent in Higher Education first as an academic and consultant specialising in structural failure analysis and later as a senior administrator. He now lives permanently in Dittisham. His particular interests on the Board are health & safety, personnel matters and the Moorings’ Policy.

Ray was first appointed to the Board in late 2001. He is Dart Estuary Officer (employed by South Hams District Council) responsible for the establishment and running of Dart Estuary Environmental Management (DEEM) a partnership promoting the sustainable use of the Dart Estuary. He has spent almost all his working life involved in marine or coastal issues, first as an officer in the Royal Navy then as a Chartered Surveyor, Yacht Master, commercial hydrographer and marine environmental scientist. He was appointed Dart Estuary Project Officer in 1996. DEEM is based in Dartmouth and Ray lives near Prawle Point. Ray is the owner/restorer of a vintage yacht and his particular expertise on the Board is a detailed knowledge of the River Dart, environmental issues and dredging.

Neil was first appointed to the Board in late 2001. His career has been spent in the banking industry in London, Europe, the US and the Far East. He now jointly owns a leisure based business in the West Country and he is part time Finance Director of a pharmaceutical company. He is a member of the Royal Dart Yacht Club and he keeps a boat in Brixham. He lives in Churston Ferrers, Brixham. His particular expertise on the Authority is in financial matters and he has assisted the Authority particularly with developing financial reporting mechanisms, the preparation of capital plans and with advice on pensions.

Sue was first apointed to the Board in 2005. She was born and brought up in Scotland and represented both Scotland and the UK at fencing. After moving to the south west, she started sailing in a voluntary capacity helping out with Somerset Schools Sailing Association while working as a lecturer in further education. After holding several posts in charge of leisure, tourism, hospitality and catering, she worked in higher education writing a degree in health and fitness. She is a part owner of a Cobra 850 kept on the Dart and used for cruising.

Mike was appointed to the Board in December 2007. He first developed his interest in the sea when he attended the London Nautical School! He later spent 25 years in the information technology world, in various sales and marketing roles. In 1991 he founded his own company, and it was at this point that he entered the off-shore IT business, making over 100 trips to India. He developed the company into a £35 million business before it was acquired by a global software company. He continued to hold executive director responsibilities in the company until 2004 and still works as a consultant to the industry.

Mike and his family moved to Cornworthy, from Bristol, in 2003, where they operate eight self catering cottages. Mike is totally at home on the river. He enjoys taking his boat out, and is an active member of the canoe section of Dartmouth Yacht Club, having recently gained his instructors’ qualification.

Mike is writing a book for posterity, “8000 years of wisdom”, a compilation of the memories and anecdotes of one hundred octogenarians.