Chairman and Vice Chairman
Gordon Craig, Chairman
Gordon is a retired management consultant and became Chairman in January 2018 following the retirement of John Beevor. He is currently a District Councillor, chairman of the Bristol Channel Yachting Association, RYA south west committee member and sits on a variety of local trusts and committees. He is also a keen sailor.
Nigel Vaughan, Vice Chairman
Appointed in 2016, Nigel was appointed Vice Chairman in January 2019. Nigel is a chartered electrical and systems engineer and owned a successful, locally-based engineering science consultancy, He has always been interested in ships and the sea, is a former Royal Navy officer, and has enjoyed sailing in and recreational flying above, the Severn estuary for over 30 years. Nigel is also GHT’s ‘Designated Person’.
Trustees and Officers
John Christie
John is retired after a career in river pollution control. He is on the Board for Young Enterprise, Gloucestershire and has worked with schools as a YE Business Advisor. John is involved at a senior level with Toastmasters International. A long-standing member of Lydney Yacht Club, John also sails in the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel and trails to other sailing areas in the UK and Ireland.
Carl Merry
Master Mariner and Gloucester Pilot. Command experience in the short and middle sea trades; he has also served as a pilot on the East coast. As a keen yachtsman he enjoys sailing the waters of the Bristol Channel and also supports the Willow Trust as a volunteer skipper.
Geoffrey Comer
Geoffrey was appointed to the board in 2019. Geoffrey retired after a long a career that started as an apprentice with Rolls Royce and ended as a Chief Financial Officer working with international engineering and property services groups. He spent 6 years as a non-executive director of Ipswich Port Authority prior to its privatisation.
Garry Strickland
Garry is the Director and General Manager of Sharpness Dock Limited which carries out the port operation at Sharpness. He is the Chairman of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board Bristol Port Welfare Committee and a member of the GFirst Local Enterprise Board Transport and Logistics Group.
Mike Studden
Appointed in July 2019, Mike is a retired public health scientist with a background in government, commercial consultancy sector, local government and the armed forces and brings additional skills in risk assessment and corporate governance to the Board. Currently Chairman of the Cotswold Edge and Severn Vale Tourism Network, Member of GFirst LEP Tourism and Visitor Economy Group and Hon. Treasurer of Berkeley Community Trust, his many interests include the marine environment, shipbuilding and engineering.
Mike Johnson
With a Merchant Navy background aboard a range of vessels world-wide, and subsequent years working as master and engineer of large motor yachts, Mike joined the Trustees in 1997 and fulfilled the role of harbourmaster for several years before retiring in 2021.
Jill Joyce
The Trustees' Admin Officer and Clerk, Jill joined GHT in September 2022 with considerable administration skills gained from a career in education and local government services.
Stewart Henderson
The Trustees' Harbour Master, Stewart joined GHT in February 2021 after a successful career planning, supervising and participating in marine operations at a number of ports around the UK and abroad. Stewart is a keen sailor and well-known on the estuary. As the Principal Operational Officer he is a Trustee ex-officio
Susan Hill
Susan, our Finance Officer, is an experienced AAT who works for a number of local clients and joined GHT in January 2015. When not at work, Susan is a leading light in the Gloucestershire Guiding movement and also enjoys time afloat and exploring the canal network with friends.