Boat Building Academy Staff
Tim Gedge – Director
Commander Tim Gedge founded the school of boat building in 1997 after a career in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. After a two-year break from the school he returned in January 2006 as a Director. For some years a Yacht Master examiner he has sailed and raced extensively; more recently he was a member of the Council of the Marine South West group within the South West Regional Development Agency and of other marine business associations in the region.
Will Reed - Principal/Instructor
Will has a degree in furniture design and worked at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College before coming to the Academy as a student to learn boat building. After the course he started his own business building, restoring and repairing boats, in addition to designing and constructing furniture. Will helped to set-up the 12 week Fine Woodworking course (originally an 8 week course) and has led the course since it’s inception for ten years. In June 2019, Will assumed the role of principal of the Boat Building Academy and continues to teach part-time on the 40 week Boat Building course.
George Kingsley - Digital Administrator
George has a degree in Film & Media Production. Before joining the Academy, he worked for a local newspaper. He looks after the website and social media channels.
Rob Hounslow - Machinist
Rob grew up around water, his father runs a fish farm on the River Kennet, but had never sailed. Over the years Rob covered almost every job on the farm, including working with green oak and making bridges and jetties. Wanting to master a craft, Rob attended the Academy’s boat building class of March 2012. One of his many accomplishments while on the course was to grow a vegetable garden on the Small Machine Shop roof. After leaving the course Rob managed and maintained a private estate until he joined the Academy as full time Machinist in August 2017. His hobbies include camping, walking, swimming, playing the guitar and bushcraft.
Tim Clayton - Stores Person
After a 27 year career in sales, Tim relocated from Buckinghamshire to West Dorset and joined the 12 week Woodworking Skills course.
Tim also teaches the 5-day Marquetry short course.
Geoff Barrett – Bookkeeping
Geoff worked in electronics manufacturing for 30 years, mostly in production planning and integrating and supporting accounting and manufacturing systems. Geoff joined the Academy in November 2015 and works two days per week.
Wendy Sartin – Housekeeper
Originally from Leatherhead in Surrey, Wendy moved to Lyme Regis over 30 years ago. She is the mother of four children, and Housekeeper at the Lyme Regis Marine Centre.
Mark Kingsley - Maintenance
In his youth Mark was a drummer in the National Youth Orchestra. He restores classic cars and motorbikes, has two greyhounds, plays guitar and writes and produces music that has been played at festivals all over the world.
