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. Tim is a regular visitor to the Academy.
Yvonne Green – Principal
Yvonne Green has a wide-ranging background, from working as a training officer for the Civil Service to teaching fiction writing to adults and Art Director for Hallmark Cards. She started an art gallery and artists’ agency in Manchester, gained an MA in Novel Writing as a mature student and has worked as a freelance editor and reader. Yvonne joined the Academy in 2005.
Janine Cashin – Administration
Janine spent 20 years working in the textile industry. In 2013 Janine wanted a complete career change and joined the Boat Building Academy. In addition to general administration, Janine deals with the short course programme, events, answering enquiries, taking bookings and organising accommodation.
George Kingsley - Administrator
George worked for a local newspaper before joining the academy in February 2018, he studied Media and Film studies at university. As a keen writer, he contributes to several websites and runs his own film-related blog.
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.
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.
Steve Hewins – Technician
Steve has worked as a swimming instructor, upholsterer and groundskeeper. He first joined the BBA as a student on the Woodworking Skills course back in September 2012. When the Academy needed a Technician to work with ‘Woodworking Skills’ students, we asked Steve if he would be interested in joining us again on a different side of the workbench. Steve moved from Cheshire to join the team in Lyme Regis at Christmas 2013.
Jonathan Pritchard – Stores
Jon lives in Bridport and has a Masters degree in Product Design Engineering from Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow. In 2011 he completed the Academy’s 8 week ‘Woodworking Skills’ course. Jon also runs his own business ‘JCP Design’ designing and making bespoke wooden speakers using the skills he learned at the Academy.
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. Wendy’s hobbies are hunting (mugs, teaspoons, whoever left dirty crockery in the kitchen sink) and shooting (whoever left dirty crockery in the kitchen sink).
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.
