People

Ben Wilde

Ben is the lead for all things Archipelago Folkschool he trained as a boatbuilder at the North West School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2008 and has been working as a boatbuilder and teacher since. He ran the boatbuilding programme of the GalGael Trust from 2010 to 2018 including a major Heritage Lottery Funded project 'Anchor and Sail'. As part of that he delivered the first City and Guilds qualifications in boatbuilding in Scotland with Martin Hughes from the Scottish Maritime Museum.

While at GalGael he built at least 10 new boats and restored as many again. Notable projects including restoring Orcuan, a 30' Hebridean Birlinn belonging to the GalGael Trust; new build of the Iain Oughtred West Coast Skiff and developing a new 10'6" clinker dinghy design with builder and designer Jonny Burke.

He's also been instrumental in establishing the Clydebuilt Festival in Glasgow and the Glasgow Coastal Rowing Club. His main interests are maritime heritage and making it as accessible as it possibly can be, and of course sailing, rowing and playing in small craft. 

ROBBIE WIGHTMAN

Robbie Wightman is a solicitor with over 25 year experience in Personal Injury, Mental Health Law and Professional Negligence Litigation, working in both the private and public sectors. He has had a lifelong involvement in traditional boats and in 2010 he became the Convenor of Scottish Coastal Rowing Association from which he stepped down in 2020 having guided it from its establishment to being a widely regarded and emulated organisation internationally. Robbie was chief umpire and race director at the St Ayles Skiff World Championships in 2013, 2016 and 2019 as well as holding the same role for Castle to Crane for the last 4 years. We are delighted that Robbie has brought his wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to the Folkschool to help guide us in years to come.