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

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

Matthew oversees all the work going on in the boatyard. Inc design, build and maintenance.
His party trick, amongst others we won’t mention, is identifying a boat by the window shape or bathing platform.
His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things boats is incredible
  • Joined the team in: 1998
  • Favourite spot on the broads: S Walsham
  • Favourite boat: Brinks Tempo

Sian Pearce

Administrator & Bookings Clerk

Sian is our amazing office manager. Keeping us all on our toes

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

Tom’s the guy who’s responsible for the day to day running of the boatyard. Making sure each boat is “turned around” ready for your arrival
On a busy day in summer, Tom tells us he records over 30k steps a day! He reminds us of this quite often
  • 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

Sheila stepped up to head housekeeper very recently and manages her team of nearly 50 with ease.
Her sharp eye keeps everyone on their toes -including the Engineers. Who wouldn’t dare leave any mucky hand prints behind them
  • Joined the team in: 2015
  • Favourite spot on the broads: Hickling
  • Favourite boat: The smallest one

Latest News & Information

How Hill to Ludham Bridge

How Hill is a great place to start a walk, there is a car park and plenty of mooring for boats, making it an ideal starting point however you arrive. Walkers should walk out to How Hill Staithe, a public mooring place for boats and from here, head south along ...

Learn more

Latest News & Information

How Hill to Ludham Bridge

How Hill is a great place to start a walk, there is a car park and plenty of mooring for boats, making it an ideal starting point however you arrive. Walkers should walk out to How Hill Staithe, a...

Learn more

Last minute availability and offers!

"Best hire boat company on the broads in our opinion. Have hired boats from here three times now & had no issues highly recommended."
- David Green
"Wonderful relaxing week. The weather was perfect."
- Frank Hall
"Our 2nd time on the broads and with Barnes Brinkcraft. Great boat, great staff kind and helpful. With a little starter lesson they ensure you are confident to sail away."
- Tina K
"First time boating for around 15 years. Just the two of us and an anxious dog. Handover of the boat was sweet as a nut, arrived at 1400 to be told the boat was ready and we could unpack. Managed to park quite close so wasn't too hard in the sunshine. Had a quick demo with Casper who showed us what to do and we were off downstream making towards Potter Heigham. First time we've ventured across Breydon must give a shout out to the Yarmouth station guys for putting us right. Easy crossing and into reedham for the night, discovered the Ferry doesn't do food on Monday so onwards into Norwich, again thanks to the yacht station lad for helping with mooring. Quite a lively place unfortunately we managed to find three lads that rather than go home they had a full on discussion around exams and universities outside the boat. Not offensive or swearing just a little loud, but hey that's the risk you take in a city. Back to the Northern side from then on. Lovely day at Salhouse and a walk to the Stag, first time trying Hawkstone Lager and can confirm it's rather nice. Back to wroxham Friday night to hand over the boat Saturday morning. A fantastic holiday all in all although an interaction with one of the staff members in the office marred it somewhat. Unknown to me we had been given the spare key for the boat, when returning it to the office I entered into 20 questions which were all the same why do you have the spare key? It was the tone of voice and talking down to me that I took exception to. There are only so many ways I can say I don't know it was what was given to me. Would I return? In a heartbeat, I think I was born to be wealthy but forced to work for a living Great holiday Serenade 6 is a stunning boat, absolutely has everything you would need for a week."
- Mark Shipley
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    Barnes Marine Units Ltd, Riverside Road, Wroxham, Norwich NR12 8UD. Registered in England & Wales Reg 1321482
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