For general enquiries, please contact us using the contact form below. For specific enquiries, please contact the relevant officer below.
For specific enquiries, please contact the relevant officer below
Chair (Trustee)
Jonathan Turner (Trustee) I’ve always been interested in history and having moved to Dartmouth, started looking at the maritime history of the town. As a member of the Dartmouth History Research Group, I am researching the life and times of maritime Dartmothians in the early seventeenth century, prompted by Mayflower 400 and the anniversary of the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. My other areas of interest are Victorian Commercial Sail, and the growth of England’s trade with Portugal in the 17th and early 18th Century. I’m a rough and ready day sailor and motor boater – any boat is a good boat, and I especially enjoy the historic ships that often visit South Devon waters, as well as the historic ports.
Treasurer
Philip Northcott (Trustee) My interest in maritime history started with a course run by Professor NAM Rodger during my BA in Classics and History. I then went on to do my MA in Naval History under the supervision of Dr Mike Duffy. Since then, I have maintained my interest by being part of this Society and the Navy Records Society. I believe that the maritime perspective must be front and centre in any discussion of the Island of Britain and its history. Societies like ours are essential in doing this and I hope that we can inspire a new generation of local and national historians to keep the story of our Island in the national consciousness.
Editor MSW
Jonathan Turner (Trustee)
I’ve always been interested in history and having moved to Dartmouth, started looking at the maritime history of the town. As a member of the Dartmouth History Research Group, I am researching the life and times of maritime Dartmothians in the early seventeenth century, prompted by Mayflower 400 and the anniversary of the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. My other areas of interest are Victorian Commercial Sail, and the growth of England’s trade with Portugal in the 17th and early 18th Century. I’m a rough and ready day sailor and motor boater – any boat is a good boat, and I especially enjoy the historic ships that often visit South Devon waters, as well as the historic ports.
Editor South West Soundings
Maggie Watkinson (Trustee) I became interested in maritime history as a result of ‘doing’ my family tree. I thought I was a Hampshire Hog, but discovered my great grandfather was born in Plymouth and his father in Cargreen on the Cornish side of the Tamar. My (3x) great grandfather was born in Bere Ferrers and was a bargeman and a waterman on the Tamar when he was older. And so it began. I started investigating Tamar barges, cargoes, crew lists, social history and more people in the family tree, many of whom were involved in the sea in one way or another.
My professional career was nursing; I trained in Oxford and worked there until 2000. For nine years I worked in a joint senior lecturer/clinical nurse specialist role; my MSc has nothing whatsoever to do with history of any sort, but the transferable skills I acquired have been very useful. I have published, was the editor of a professional journal for ten years and am a qualified teacher of adults. I retired, in Somerset, in 2011. Oh, and I sew.
I would have loved to have been a ‘sailor’ but didn’t have either the time or finances to learn. Reader, I married another nurse and we lived in Oxford!”
My professional career was nursing; I trained in Oxford and worked there until 2000. For nine years I worked in a joint senior lecturer/clinical nurse specialist role; my MSc has nothing whatsoever to do with history of any sort, but the transferable skills I acquired have been very useful. I have published, was the editor of a professional journal for ten years and am a qualified teacher of adults. I retired, in Somerset, in 2011. Oh, and I sew.
I would have loved to have been a ‘sailor’ but didn’t have either the time or finances to learn. Reader, I married another nurse and we lived in Oxford!”
Other Committee Members
Clive Charlton My interest in maritime history is long-standing (also contemporary shipping). However, I am not a sailor despite living in a very nautical part of the world (and with numerous yachtie friends). I cannot claim to have the research expertise of many SWMHS members, but I have a reasonably broad knowledge and definite real interest. Other topics I find especially interesting include: Plymouth and the Tamar Valley, the Northwest Passage, the Canadian Maritime provinces, troop ships of WW1, sea songs (both the singing thereof and the background to the songs and lyrics), post-WW2 coastal shipping …
I lectured in Geography at the University of Plymouth for 42 years, but since retirement I have turned rather more to local and maritime history. I was a volunteer in the former Plymouth City Museum (now ‘The Box’) until COVID-19 interrupted and worked closely with the city and maritime curator, Nigel Overton, who is still a good friend, and also retired. I also edit the annual journal called ‘Tamar’ for the Friends of the Tamar Valley.
My maritime credentials doubtless seem rather pale compared with many. But I have a pretty good awareness and knowledge across a wide range of topics, although can’t claim specific research glory.”
I lectured in Geography at the University of Plymouth for 42 years, but since retirement I have turned rather more to local and maritime history. I was a volunteer in the former Plymouth City Museum (now ‘The Box’) until COVID-19 interrupted and worked closely with the city and maritime curator, Nigel Overton, who is still a good friend, and also retired. I also edit the annual journal called ‘Tamar’ for the Friends of the Tamar Valley.
My maritime credentials doubtless seem rather pale compared with many. But I have a pretty good awareness and knowledge across a wide range of topics, although can’t claim specific research glory.”
Mike Williams (Trustee) Professor Mike Williams is a Visiting Professor at Plymouth University’s School of Law, Criminology & Government, a member of the University’s Marine Conservation & Policy Research Group (MarCoPol) and a former Honorary Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. He has published extensively on the law relating to the foreshore and seabed and underwater cultural heritage. He has advised government departments and agencies, both in the UK and abroad and was retained as an advisor to the Crown Estate (Marine Division) on foreshore and seabed law. Mike sits on the UK’s Joint Nautical Archaeological Policy Committee, is a member of the Ministry of Defence’s Expert Panel on HMS Victory 1744, is Chair of the Devon & Severn Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authority, is the Honorary Secretary of the Nautical Archaeology Society (a UK registered charity), a Director of Mast Heritage, a Harbour Commissioner and a former member of the Expert Network for UNESCO’s UK National Commission. Mike is a qualified commercial and recreational diver and as a member of the South West Maritime Archaeology Group has conducted archaeological operations on several protected wreck sites.
Mike Duffy (Trustee) I was Head of History and Founder-Director of the Centre for Maritime Historical Studies at Exeter University. For ten years I was also the Editor of The Mariners Mirror. The Journal of the Society for Nautical Research, and I have been senior Vice President and still am a member of the publications committee of the Navy Records Society. Although I was born in Portsmouth, my enthusiasm for maritime history developed at university from a growing appreciation of the impact of the sea on everything British. My focus has been primarily naval, but when invited to be one of the editors of the two volumes of the New Maritime History of Devon, I became initiated into the impact of the sea on the everyday life of the South West. It was stimulating to find not just professional colleagues and enthusiastic postgraduate students, but also many amateur maritime historians of the region whose work I have endeavoured to support and encourage beyond retirement.