Meet the crew

Born in South Shields, Keeran grew up close to the sea and the River Tyne. His passion for the maritime world began early, sailing from Royal Quays Marina in his childhood with the Ocean Youth Trust and Sea Scouts. Keeran joins boatfolk from the Port of Tyne, where he has served as Assistant Harbour Master since 2023. His maritime career began as a Deck Officer on a variety of commercial vessels, ranging from LNG tankers and buoy tenders to offshore research vessels and containerships. This breadth of experience has given Keeran a comprehensive understanding of the maritime sector. He is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and welcoming space that serves the local community, supports visiting boaters, and accommodates our diverse range of users. Outside of work, Keeran enjoys mountain biking, attending the theatre, and dedicating time to his duties in the Royal Naval Reserve.

David Wood is the Senior Yacht Broker at the Boatpoint office in Royal Quays Marina. After a career in retail management, he decided to follow his passion for boats, swapping the shop floor for the open water as motor yacht crew in the Mediterranean. Eventually, he settled in North-East England, where he found his true calling in yacht brokerage. With extensive experience and a deep knowledge of the boat market, David helps clients navigate the buying and selling process with confidence. Known for his friendly and approachable nature, he makes finding the perfect boat a smooth and enjoyable experience.

David joined the Royal Quays Marina crew in 2022 to assist with the events planning, marketing activity, communications and customer care aspects of the marina's activities. David has worked in the charity, business and public sectors in his career to date including working for the family business in Yorkshire and then for national conservation organisations. David compiles the berth-holder's e-newsletter and looks after our social media. As a keen birder since an early age, David keeps an eye on the wildlife around the Marina and can be seen out on site with the 'big lens' photographing  wildlife and recording the activities of the marina. Outside work he is keen on the local history of the area (despite originally coming from Yorkshire), collects art that show the history of the Tyne and enjoys reading, music and theatre. 

After quitting his job as a senior manager for a well-known supermarket chain, James set sail from Scarborough aboard his Etap 28i, Takaza, with plans to explore the UK and beyond. However, after spending a winter at Royal Quays Marina, he and his partner, Gav, fell in love with the area and embraced a liveaboard lifestyle on their boat.

James initially joined the boatfolk team as a Marina Assistant and was recently promoted to Berthing Master. He’s now one of the friendly faces of the marina, typically working Fridays and weekend day shifts, though you may occasionally see him around on other days. James takes pride in ensuring a warm welcome and smooth experience for berth holders and visitors alike.

Alex is our main man in the boatyard. Being chief hoist driver and crane operator, like as not it’ll be Alex setting your boat down. Alex’s many talents include building rowing skiffs, puppetry, rock musician and a subtle wit. He’s big into wooden boats but chooses to have a fibre glass one!

Brian joined the marina when we first opened and celebrated 25 years service at Royal Quays in 2023. Brian is always happy to share his experience and knowledge and you'll usually find him behind the BBQ at our marina events. As en ex-trawlerman and keen angler, what Brian doesn't know about fishing isn't worth knowing! His experience and understanding of the marina is second to none. In 2024, Brian decided to step back from the role of Assistant Marina Manager but he is still working Wednesday to Friday when you will find him working on various jobs around the marina.