The Team

Gavin is Chairman of Executive Advisory Services a Cookham based firm of independent financial advisers which he set up in 1992. He was also Chair of Governors at Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead up until 2023 where he has been a governor since 2004. Gavin’s hobbies include playing the Tuba, flying as a private pilot, kayaking and being an RYA powerboat instructor at Maidenhead Sailing Club. He holds the RYA Safety Boat Qualification, Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate,  and is a trained British Canoeing Bellboat Helm.

Chris is an engineer who has always had an interest in water sports and access for people with disabilities. He was involved with SportsAble for many years which was a local disability sports club in Maidenhead until it closed. He still helps run swimming sessions at the Braywick Leisure Centre for people with disabilities.

He had extensive experience sailing on the Lord Nelson, which was a square-rigged ship constructed to suit physically disabled people, which took a voyage crew of 40 of which 50% would have a disability and up to 8 would use wheelchairs.

He is now a volunteer with ABT and has RYA Powerboat level 2, Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate, is a trained British Canoeing Bellboat Helm and RYA Assistant Sailing Instructor and derives huge pleasure from getting people out on the water no matter what their ability.

Hilary lives in Bisham having recently retired from 36 years as a manager with the John Lewis Partnership. She joined ABT as a volunteer in 2022, having previously been a keen sailor in her younger years. Here she rekindled the joy of boating and was soon volunteering for most trips and using her John Lewis coaching experience to ensure that the clients enjoy their day on the water. She already held RYA Day skipper, Dinghy level 2 and a radio licence from her previous sailing days and since joining ABT has gained her RYA Power Boat Level 2, Inland Waterways Helmsman’s certificate and a British Canoeing Bellboat Helm, meaning that she is qualified to operate in all sectors of the charity’s activities.
In 2023 she was asked to join the trustee team and didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Having held senior technical positions in a number of I.T. companies including Microsoft, Steve was Principal of his own IT Consultancy for 10 years before retirement. A keen sailor, Steve holds an RYA Yachtmaster skippers qualification with many years experience of sailing, including an Atlantic Crossing. More recently Steve has been more involved with river cruising and has a 24 ft motor-cruiser on the Thames.

Peter is the Director of Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School Ltd, the longest standing a RYA Commercial Training Centre on the Upper reaches of the Thames and was established in 1991. BASNS became a RYA Sailability Centre in 1998 providing services to Charities like MENCAP. Peter is qualified as a RYA Powerboat instructor; RYA Disability Awareness instructor; RYA Dinghy Instructor; RYA Inland Waterways Instructor, and BSS Private and Commercial Boat Safety Inspector.

After completing a degree in Business and Accounting, Kate continued her studies and qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Kate’s career ranged from audit to in-house accounting roles before specialising in tax. She progressed to International Tax Director, and International Tax and Treasury Director in various multinational organisations.
Kate recently retired and began volunteering for Accessible Boating Thames. In 2023 she took on the role of Treasurer. Kate holds her RYA dinghy sailing certificate, RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate and British Canoeing Bellboat Helm award.

ABT is run entirely by volunteers. We have 20 volunteers with a range of skills and interests. All have RYA First Aid Training paid for by the charity as well as the training required for any specific activity such as helming. There are also many land based activities such a maintenance and shore support during our many sessions. If you are interested to learn more click here.