The Crew
The NBSC Crew
We may be a “Motley Crew” but we are all passionate about the waterways, boating and sharing the knowledge that we have accrued over an awful lot of years.
We’re a friendly bunch and we all work together to constantly share our experiences of the courses and improve the training wherever we can.
Importantly, we know that for most people boating is a leisure pursuit or lifestyle choice and we’d like to think that we can offer you the best balance of training and fun that you will get. Come and join us for a course and see what we mean.
Oh, and needless to say, we’re all qualified RYA Instructors.
David Orme
David is our Centre Principal and has been messing around with boats since the age of 7 when he helped his dad build their first sailing dinghy. Holding both RYA Powerboat and Coastal Skipper qualifications, he’s boated extensively around the British Isles and Eastern Mediterranean. Owning his own traditional narrowboat, he is now happiest navigating the quieter waters of our wonderful canal network.
As well as handling the Centre’s admin, David occasionally gets the chance to take the odd Helmsman or Experience Day course – assuming the other instructors allow him the chance!
David can be contacted directly at david@nbsc.org.uk
Steve Goddard
Steve is our Chief Instructor and has been floating around on (and on occasionally falling into) the canals since the mid 60s on everything from canvas kayaks to working boats and claims to have once been sunk by an iceberg outside the Rose and Castle in Braunston. We’re not certain if this was before or after he went to the pub.
Our boat building courses are based on Steve’s experience of building his own boat (Siskin) which he considers a success as he can still count to 10 on his fingers.
Steve can teach all our boat and classroom courses. He loves the challenge of “Own Boat Courses” on interesting boats and waterways.
You can contact Steve direct on steve@nbsc.org.uk
Steve Dennison
Steve has been playing around on boats on and off (sometimes into the water) since the age of 12, first on the Thames and London canals. Later trips to the Norfolk Broads and European rivers ‘broadened’ the experience level.
Career wise, Steve has been an engineer all his life, starting with trains, followed by automotive (up to F1, rallying and endurance racing), light aircraft and boats.
Steve teaches our diesel engine and systems classroom based courses.
You can contact Steve direct on steved@nbsc.org.uk
John Rush
John has spent the last 35 years in and around boats of all shapes and sizes on the inland waterway system. Starting from humble beginnings as a novice on a hire boat, through part ownership of a shared narrow boat, to full blown live-aboard status on his 57ft narrowboat “Cor Blimey !!” since 2002.
With pending retirement John set up the Soar Valley Helmsman Training Centre using all his knowledge and experience as instructional material for his students.
After a gap year in 2019 spent cruising the North Western reaches of the inland waterway system, John is back, refreshed, and has joined forces with The Narrowboat Skills Centre, where he imparts his knowledge and experience to all and sundry.
John instructs on all boat based courses.
You can contact John direct on John@nbsc.org.uk
Alistair Chapman
Alistair has lived locally in the countryside all of his life. From an early age he has always loved the canals, walking along the towpaths and fishing all day. Finally, after spending 25 years motor boating off the south coast, Alistair moved to hiring narrowboats before finally buying his own.
When not instructing, or working on his own boat, Alistair is busy using his workshop and woodworking skills how to provide carpentry services to others restoring or renovating their own boats.
Having spent most of his life working in the hospitality industry, including founding The Langton Brewery, he is now semi retired – but it’s difficult tell!
Alistair instructs on all boat based courses.
You can contact Alistair direct on alistair@nbsc.org.uk
Rob Chapman
Rob started his boating life back the 80s, subsequently spending 30+ years charging around the English Channel in a series of different boats – all burning far too much fuel!
It took Rob a time to realise that as for most of those years he’d lived in Leicestershire, within half a mile of the Grand Union, an alternative boating lifestyle was (literally) on his doorstep.
Rob initially had his interest ‘piqued’ by restoring a couple of narrowboats with his cousin Alistair (another of our instructors). He’s since found himself increasingly on the canals, or if not, then running along the towpaths. One is easier than the other, apparently! He confesses to never being happier than when on water, whether at 3 knots, or 30!
Rob instructs on all boat based courses.
You can contact Rob direct on rob@nbsc.org.uk
