Before taking full-time responsibility for his schoolship scheme, he was involved in the construction of Bradwell nuclear power station, and was employed by Shell Oil and by E H Bentall and Co,[1] Archived 2009-04-17 at the Wayback Machine agricultural machinery manufacturers, at Maldon, Essex.

In later years his work, mainly published in the Essex press, included pieces on coastal and marshland life, obituaries, reviews of amateur dramatics and musicals, and short stories.

The concept, developed by John Kemp and Jane Benham, was not sail training of the type practised by many similar organizations, nor was it overtly character-building.

Both of these however formed part of an innovative educational concept: the 'floating classroom', in which children explored the communities, geography and ecology of the Thames estuary.

Funding for the East Coast Sail Trust's work came from a combination of national charitable appeals, masterminded by George A. Jones of Writtle, Essex, grants from councils and education authorities, and contributions from the students taking part.

The Trust was overseen by a council, chaired through much of its early existence, by H. Gordon Parker, at the time Chairman of the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company.

[3] Hervey Benham, newspaperman and prolific author of works about sailing ships and the east coast of England, also played a role in the development of the schoolship scheme.

His work in this field was pioneering, and provided the example for several other efforts to preserve and operate sailing barges, for both development of young people and for leisure.