Jack Chippendale

Jack is the doyen of the UK's wooden boat builders with well over four thousand boats to his credit. He has been foremost in the development of innovative techniques and the use of new materials in boat building. Jack has been deeply involved in training throughout his career and the BBA is delighted to have him as a tutor to the instructors as well as a committed and inspirational instructor.

Matthew Law

Before taking the C & G course here in 1999, Matthew worked in education and research at Trinity College, Dublin after working in emergency relief and development in East Africa.  He worked as a shipwright for Lathams Boatyard in Poole after completing his City & Guilds course and first instructed for the BBA in 2004

John Stuckey

John is a highly experienced and talented joiner. He is also an expert in metalworking with a deep understanding of the properties of all boatbuilding materials.

Roy Gollop

Roy began as an apprentice boat builder in 1946 before enlisting in the Royal Marines where he was responsible for landing craft operations and later senior instructor of seamanship, craft handling and navigation. He returned to Lyme Regis to manage the family fishing business for several years until he ‘finally reopened the toolbox’ building clinker dinghies and working boats for local use.

Colin Henwood

Colin established the name of Henwood & Dean Boatbuilders as one of the top builders and restorers of classic river craft. In his workshops near Henley-on-Thames he and his team of 5 craftsmen are part of a generation of Thames boatbuilders who are maintaining the traditions of the past using time honoured methods and techniques. The Quality of his workmanship is highly renowned and may be seen at classic boat rallies all over Europe.

Mike Broome

Mike Broome spent six years as a marine engine fitter before becoming a designer of special-purpose machinery. He left engineering to train in traditional boat building skills at Lyme Regis where, with a fellow graduate, he then set up a successful small company building boats of both modern and traditional wooden construction. Mike started as a part-time instructor at the Academy before joining full-time in 2007.  His partner continues to run their business

Paul Dyer worked in IT management before completely changing career and becoming a student on the 38 week course here at the Academy, where he gained Distinctions at Levels II and III.  He worked as a boat builder and as Accommodation Manager at Lyme Regis Marine Centre before being promoted to his present role of Programme Manager and Assistant Instructor.

Gail, a British Sign Language Interpreter before she became a student at the Academy, was awarded a full City & Guilds bursary and named British Marine Federation Trainee of the Year in 2005.  She built an 18' Shetland double-ended boat on the course, then went to Ireland to work as an apprentice on an Atlantic Challenge 38' gig build.  Early this year Gail joined us as an Assistant Instructor and is building a 1915 Frederick Goeller 12' traditional clinker sailing boat.  She is the BBA's Project Leader on a Cornish Pilot Gig build, recently commissioned from the Academy by the newly-formed Lyme Regis Gig Club.