March 2024 – Brightlingsea, UK – Brightlingsea Harbour Commission’s executive team of Commissioners is made up of volunteer members of the community with a special interest in or knowledge of the Harbour and matters relating to its management and long-term protection and development. Commissioners are appointed on a four-year term basis, and can serve a maximum of two terms. The one exception is that if a Commissioner is elected as Chair of the Commission, they can stand for a third four year term whilst Chairman. Recently two Commissioners have come to the end of their terms, and following a process of advertising and interviews, two new Commissioners have been appointed. The Harbour team are delighted to welcome Ali Johns and Karl Lumbers.

Ali Johns has lived in Brightlingsea for twelve years, she is a leader on the water and in her national role in education, with particular focus on the Planning and implementation of strategic projects, designed to benefit a wide range of stakeholders. As an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and at one time skipper of the Falmouth Harbour Ferry, she is at home in a harbour. Ali has been an active participant in the sailing and gig rowing communities, taking a lead role in the development of the Harker’s Yard Gig Association. She is well travelled, between 2000 and 2009, Ali was the Navigator on 40ft+ yachts and catamarans in three South China Sea races, a ‘Round Britain’ charity endeavour and several long-distance deliveries along the US Eastern seaboard and the Australian coast.

Karl Lumbers, a former Master Mariner came ashore in the 1980’s as a Marine Surveyor/Consultant. He then ventured into the Marine Liability Insurance industry, becoming a Company Director in 1990 - a career spanning over 45 years in the maritime shipping industry. He is a keen dinghy and yacht sailor on the Deben and owns a boat and races keelboats out of Suffolk Yacht harbour. He is a Patron of “OFFSHORE - It’s Your Adventure” in West Mersea and several other sailing charities in the area, through the Trinity House East of England Regional Grants Committee. The two new commissioners are now in post we look forward to working with them.

Departing from the Commission team are Fiona Brown and Pamela Hatswell and we thank them for their service. Fiona, a longstanding commissioner with a full eight years’ service, has strong links to Brightlingsea Sailing Club, the Colne Yacht Club, owns a Brightlingsea One Design and was also a member of the Brightlingsea Regatta Committee. She grew up locally in Rowhedge where here father ran a boat yard and spent much of her youth sailing from and based in Brightlingsea, returning to the town again a decade ago. Her more than four decades of professional experience working with a wide range of well-known international marine organisations, with particular focus on event management, communications and PR, were of great benefit to the Harbour.

Pamela was appointed in 2017. As a small business owner living in Brightlingsea she developed an extensive network of connections in the business community over more than twenty years. Pamela’s strong links with the Town helped to keep the team abreast of news from and matters of interest to the whole community, and she was a passionate advocate of promoting Brightlingsea in general and the harbour in particular to the widest possible audience. Her attention to detail and her critical eye ensured the Harbour was always in safe hands. Although not initially a sailor, she was soon involved on the water as an enthusiastic participant in the CYC’s Women on the water and continues to be an active sailor.

Our thanks go to Fiona and Pamela for their excellent service to the Harbour over many years. Ali John and Karl Lumbers join the existing Harbour Commission team of Chair Andrew Scott, Duncan Nicholson, Daniel Stoker, Colin Watkins, Patric Foley-Brickley and Harbour Master James Thomas.