Meet our Team
We’re showing you just a few of our team here (the ones you are most likely to meet)
Behind the scenes, we have around 100 team members. Including Engineers, Boat Builders & Cleaners. The team pull together to build and maintain our boats and holiday homes ready for you to use. Just ask and we’ll do our best to help
Jill Thwaites
Founder
Jill and her late husband Brian started Barnes Brinkcraft in 1964 with just two hire boats. With the help of her sons Daniel and Matthew the business has continued to grow.
Jill has recently passed away. You can read her obituary here
- Joined the team in: 1964
- Favourite spot on the broads: Wroxham Broad
- Favourite boat: Blenheim
Daniel Thwaites
Director
Daniel keeps an eye on the pennies. Managing the financial and administrative side of the business.
He should know the business well by now, his first day in the office, was in a cot, whilst Jill was dealing with customers on a turnaround day
- Joined the team in: 1998
- Favourite spot on the broads: Thurn
- Favourite boat: Brinks Encore
Matthew Thwaites
Director
- Joined the team in: 1998
- Favourite spot on the broads: S Walsham
- Favourite boat: Brinks Tempo
Sheila Scott
Office Manager
Sheila’s role is crucial and very varied. She manages the bookings, accounts and office staff . On busy days Sheila helps out with checking in customers arriving for their holidays. We think she’s a bit like a swan, calm on top, but never stops paddling.
- Joined the team in: 2004
- Favourite spot on the broads: Ranworth
- Favourite boat: Brinks Lullaby
Sian Pearce
Administrator & Bookings Clerk
Sian is one of our newest office staff, and you may well meet her when you first arrive.
Don’t worry about asking her about the Norfolk Broads though, she’s a fully-fledged boat owner with loads of local knowledge
- Joined the team in: 2021
- Favourite spot on the broads: Horning
- Favourite boat: Brinks Sonnet
Tom Lawn
Yard Manager
- Joined the team in: 2006
- Favourite spot on the broads: Coltishall
- Favourite boat: Brinks Melody
Philip Baker
Head Engineer
Philip co-ordinates our team of electrical and mechanical engineers. He started his first stint working for Barnes Brinkcraft as an apprentice. Something obviously stuck, Philip was the brains behind our hybrid boat Brinks Rhapsody.
- Joined the team in: 2009
- Favourite spot on the broads: Ranworth
- Favourite boat: Brinks Rhapsody
Sara Thwaites
Marketing & Customer Services Manager
Sara looks after our social media accounts, keeps the website up to date, places our advertising and organises any events or festivals that we attend. Sara also takes a keen interest in customers holiday experiences and is your point of contact if you have any suggestions on how we can improve your Norfolk Broads holiday.
If you meet her in a sailing boat steer clear, she’s only just learning to helm!
- Joined the team in: 2018
- Favourite spot on the broads: Black Horse Broad
- Favourite boat: Brinks Encore Plus
Sheila V
Head Housekeeper
- Joined the team in: 2015
- Favourite spot on the broads: Hickling
- Favourite boat: The smallest one
Warwick Springall
Administrator & Bookings Clerk
Warwick used to do boat handovers. We haven’t let him escape the yard, but he’s office-based now. His knowledge comes in handy when helping customers book
He’s also a bit of a neat freak – his car and desk are the cleanest we have ever seen!
- Joined the team in: 2004
- Favourite spot on the broads: St Benets Abbey
- Favourite boat: Brinks Sonnet
