Centre Manager Alan Pearce
says goodbye

Watersports Centre Manager Alan Pearce is hanging up his spurs and retiring at the end of January 2026. Alan joined in July 2015, and over the past decade his impact on finances and resilience has been significant and lasting.
TRUT & RTWC
The River Tees Watersports Centre (RTWC) is run by TRUT (Tees River Users Trust), whose aim is to provide a home to all member clubs who use the River Tees for their sport. As such, Alan’s role as manager has been vital in making sure the centre runs smoothly and the books are balanced.
Celebrating Alan’s Achievements
When Alan began, function income stood at £48k (2014/15), delivering a nominal contribution of £19k after costs. By 2025/26, function income is expected to reach £130k, generating a contribution of around £55k — an increase of 189%, almost three times the original level, and slightly ahead of last year’s performance.
As TRUT is a not for profit organisation that runs the centre for the clubs, all of this income contributes towards keeping our fees as low as possible.
During the exceptionally challenging Covid period, Alan played a crucial role in securing the club’s future. Between 2020 and 2022, he successfully applied for £122k in grant funding, the vast majority of which was Covid-related. These grants provided vital support at a time when the club needed it most. This enabled TRC to reduce club fees by 50% in order to support members through this difficult period.
Over the same 10-year period, the cost of running the RTWC (including heat, light, maintenance, insurance and 50% of wages) rose from £61k to £100k — an increase of 64%. Despite this, membership and boat storage fees increased by only 21%, from £51k to £62k, reflecting careful stewardship and a strong commitment to value for members.
Alan leaves the club in a far stronger financial position than when he arrived. His dedication, professionalism, and ability to grow income while keeping costs and member charges under control have made a lasting contribution to the club’s success.
We thank Alan sincerely for his outstanding service and wish him every happiness in his retirement.
by Richard Olver