Our Chairman

Bernard Clarke took the helm of the Friends at our AGM in October 2010.  Bernard was educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and prior to retirement was a Fellow of the CIPD. Bernard’s career and background spans board level operational management responsibility, HR management roles, consultancy and people development throughout Europe and the USA.

A keen yachtsman he is a past Commodore of Chichester Yacht Club and currently the Commodore of the Westerly Owners Association (with 3000 plus members the largest association of its kind in the world). A RYA/MCA qualified Yacht Master Ocean, Bernard recently sailed his Westerly Oceanlord ‘Golden Eye of Chichester’ around the world and plans to sail to Chichester Harbour from Turkey early next year to fully ‘close the circle’.

Bernard with his wife Jean has lived in Chidham for 21 years and is passionate about the Harbour. He takes a keen interest and is active in local and harbour affairs including his role of Chidham Parish Councillor and enthusiastic supporter of the Cobnor Activity Centre.

 “We first came down to the harbour 22 years ago when we lived in Buckinghamshire and stayed at Cobnor Point in our caravan to sail our dinghy. From that very moment we were struck with the sheer beauty of the unspoiled land and seascape of the harbour and since then we have been really appreciative of all that it has to offer”