Heritage Afloat

Council Members

Who are we?

Peter Tambling

Background: Peter was educated at Clifton and Pangbourne Nautical College. He went to sea in 1953 and served a Cadetship with Union Castle Mail Steam Ship Company. On obtaining a Second Mate's Certificate in 1957, Peter joined Elders & Fyffes Ltd. as Third Officer and left with a Master's Foreign Going Certificate as Chief Officer in 1963 following a reduction in the fleet. Peter joined Bristol Sand & Gravel Co. as an able seaman and obtained his first command in 1965.

In May that year, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve for Naval Control of Shipping duties. His vessel (Coal Fired) was broken up in 1966 and Peter joined Southampton Harbour Board as a Patrol Officer.

In Sept. 1966, Peter was appointed Marine Supt. with John Heaver Marine Aggregates Division based in Chichester. Following a take-over of the company, he went on to work for the United States Marine Fleet Activity as Ship Surveyor in 1968 at Hythe Hants.

Peter became Marine Officer in Southampton with the British transport Docks Board late in 1969, and then stayed with the Associated British Ports PLC until he was appointed Port Manager and Harbour Master at Weymouth in 1985. In 1981 he had also reached the rank of Commander RNR. In 1992 he became Chairman of the British Ports Association (Small Ports) and was awarded Bar to Reserve Decoration.

From 1994 until 2000, Peter served as a Master with the Waverley Steam Navigation Co. during the Summer season, operating Weymouth Bay Shipping as a Shipping Sub-Agency for Cory Bros Shipping and doing consultancy for Portland Port Ltd..

In 1992/3 Peter was the UK representative for Water Safety on PIANC for IMO. (control of Personal Water craft worldwide & utilising the Weymouth Port control system.)

He was appointed Senior Master for Solent Steam Packet Ltd in 2000.

Peter is married with two sons, one is a Merchant Banker and the eldest is Director of Music at Downside School.