Ali Johns and Karl Lumbers have joined Brightlingsea Harbour Commission’s executive team of Commissioners, replacing two members who have stood down.

Commissioners are 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.

Ali Johns, pictured right, has lived in Brightlingsea for 12 years and is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and a one time skipper of the Falmouth Harbour Ferry. She 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.

Well travelled, Ali has been navigator on yachts 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, pictured left, is a former master mariner whose career includes 45 years in the shipping industry as a marine surveyor and work in the marine liability insurance sector. A keen dinghy and yacht sailor on the Deben, he races keelboats out of Suffolk Yacht harbour.

He is a patron of several sailing charities, including West Mersea-based Offshore, in West Mersea and sits on the Trinity House East of England Regional Grants Committee.

The new appointees replace Fiona Brown, who has completed eight years as a commissioner, and Pamela Hatswell, who joined in 2017.