YDSA NEW MEMBERS – OCTOBER 2023
Published: 31 October 2023
CRAIG GLASSONBURY
I have been around boats most of my life, my parents had a boat and I sailed with them in the Bristol Channel from a very young age.
When school organised work experience, I went to the local boatyard (RW Davis And Son Ltd) and had a week which went well. When school offered a second week of work experience later that year it had to be in a different workplace. I wanted to go back to the boatyard, so I dug my heels in and managed to get another week there.
When I finished school, I started working at RW Davis and Son Ltd and have been involved in the building of around 80 boats of many different types, narrowboats, barges, passenger vessels and sea going boats. I’ve also carried out major repairs to many wooden boats over the years. I’ve worked at RW Davis and Son Ltd for 36 years and been the manager for around 25 years and marine surveying seems like a natural progression for me.
I own a 1933 Liverpool class lifeboat which I restored in 2007 and have travelled many thousands of sea miles in her since launch. Next year we are sailing to Poole on her for the RNLI’s 200th anniversary.
I am looking forward to meeting new people and going to new places as part of the YDSA. I’ve already done a YDSA training course which was well organised, and very interesting and I look forward to working with you all.
NICHOLAS BUTCHER
I have worked in the marine industry on the Thames for nearly two decades; firstly as a boat valeter and boat lift operator. A few years ago, I got the opportunity to branch out into Marine Surveying also. I currently work as a Marine Surveyor, alongside boat valeting and now get to work on other waterways as well as the Thames.
I am proud to have become a member of the YDSA and look forward to the many more opportunities this will create for me.
PAUL HASTINGS
I have been in the marine industry for nearly 20 years in one form or another. My boating history started with powerboat racing and this led to our teams building our own boats and moulds. My Engineering background helped to really get me started with working on the River Thames as a skipper and fleet engineer. I am now an MCA Boatmaster licence holder as well as Yachtmaster offshore. I am also a Thames waterman and I am currently captain of the HAVENGORE.
My interest in boats and engineering has led me to the surveying industry where I hope to improve and work on the commercial side of things.
I look forward to the YDSA training and CPD scheme.
