Meet The Crew!
The ship
The Matthew’s skipper is the well-known Bristol sailor Rick Wakeham, who comes from a long line of Bristol seafarers. We also have a dedicated crew of volunteers who run The Matthew of Bristol Trust, help Rick maintain the ship, and volunteer as guides and crew on board.
Our volunteer crew know a vast amount about The Matthew, John Cabot, and Bristol's maritime history. They’re so good at what they do that The Matthew of Bristol Trust was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities and was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each year on the 2nd June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Our volunteers love to talk about all things ‘Matthew’, so do come along to the ship for a free history lesson… and maybe some slightly taller tales!
The office
You’ll find Sarah in The Matthew office – if you’re thinking of booking a trip, planning a private event, or if you have any other Matthew-related questions, drop her an email or give her a call!
WANTED: VOLUNTEER GUIDES!
Do you have some free time and an interest in Bristol’s maritime history?
We're always looking to expand our team of volunteer guides and crew. If you’d like to be a part of our award-winning crew and are available on a regular basis, we’d love to hear from you!
Join our crew!
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Join our crew! ⚓
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The Ship
The Matthew is a much-loved part of Bristol’s maritime heritage with a busy schedule of public boat trips, film and festival work, corporate and celebratory events.
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The Trust
The Matthew of Bristol Trust have been the custodians of the ship since 2012. Find out more about it here…
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Support Us
We couldn’t run The Matthew without the support we receive from our crew and the public. Help us preserve this unique piece of Bristol's national and international heritage