Meet the team

Graeme Davies

Chairman

Graeme is Head of English and Media Studies at the Douglas Ewart High School and a passionate advocate for improving the life-chances of young people; it is this passion which led him to accept the Chairmanship of Building Futures Galloway.

Shaun Thomson

Team Leader

Shaun, our Team Leader, began his journey as an apprentice in Newcastle in 1982. He brings over 40 years of joinery and management experience to the team. In 1986, as a joiner specializing in heritage work, he worked on key projects including the restoration and upkeep of Castle Keep, Guild Hall, Blackfriars and City Wall in Newcastle. In 1991 he joined Tyne and Weir Fire and Rescue service and served for 25 years. In 1996 he was appointed Crew Manager. He has maintained a passion for joinery and continued this alongside Fire service duty. On his retirement from the Fire Service, Shaun turned again to the heritage construction. Shaun has been at the forefront of the project from its’ infancy with his desire to educate and coach others. In July 2023 his hard work was recognised with an invitation to Holyrood Palace to a garden party hosted by HM King Charles III.

Gail McGarva

Boatbuilding & Restoration Expert

Gail McGarva BEM, our traditional boatbuilding and boat restoration expert, trained at The Boat Building Academy in 2004-2005, building her first boat as a daughterboat to the oldest surviving Shetland boat of 1882.​ She launched the daughterboat called Georgie McDonald from Unst, the most northern isle of Britain, from the same slipway as the motherboat had been launched in 1882. Since the building of her first daughterboat, Gail has gone on to build several others, each with their own stories to tell. Gail is passionate about involving the community in the building of her boats, fostering a sense of belonging and a connection to the sea. In 2014, Gail was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to clinker boatbuilding and heritage crafts; in 2015 she was awarded the Lord Balfour Prize for exceptional achievement in craft.

Sam Whelan

Tutor

Sam, our resident stonemason and drystone dyke builder has over 15 years of experience within the trade. His experience extends to building site management, garden design, banker masonry, stone carving, conservation and restoration work. He is currently enjoying sharing skills with the next generation of craftspeople. Before coming on board Sam ran his own business which included working on multiple major projects, including the restoration of the grounds at Brockholes Station House, where he was one of two stonemasons on the project. He was additionally subcontracted to build the Bible Society Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2021, which subsequently won a gold medal for best construction.

Our team