Recent content by MRF

Hi Solveig, I often wondered what happened to you! I had no idea you sailed. Thanks for the news of Jimmi Bird and the Starship Hawklord up the High Street. PM sent with our e-mail address. Lovely to hear from you. Martin

We used to call him Square head, because ...it, erm...WAS!! All the time I lived on Vanity he never spoke to me. And he was right behind me. Martin

Hi ashman, yes, when Tucker Brown's got above themselves with the ghastly new marina it all changed for the worse, but at least Iris and Willow Wren got away. So did Vanity, but her owner disappeared and she is now at Classic Boats in Bristol, in a bad way and for sale for £1! to anyone who...

Ashman, my good friend, Steve Bowen, also lived on Curlew and often had to repair planks or even replace them between tides. Eventually even his skill and fortitude was insufficient and she was burned and he moved onto Anne Marie with Suzie...somebody, then his father bought him Vanity. For...

Hi Izzy, I'm so sorry to hear your news. I misread your earlier mail. Your dad was certainly part of the Burnham scene at the time. Last time I went there it seemed very quiet. Best for the season to you. Martin

Hi Izzy, how great to hear from you and to know that Brian, Iris, et al are all OK. I bet you remember Steve Bowen, who lived on Curlew, Anne Marie and Vanity. I bought Vanity from him and we've been good mates ever since. I know he remembers you!! Another story perhaps. Thanks for the update...

Do you happen to know what happened to her original restorers, Steve the toolmaker and his girlfriend? Martin

Curlew used to be tucked away nearer the entrance to what is now the ghastly marina. My chum, Steve Bowen, lived on it and got to the point where he could replace a plank and caulk it between tides if necessary and it often was. When I lived on Vanity, the order was, from up river:- Anne Marie...

When the distinctly unpleasant owners of Tucker Browns (who I never did pay my mooring fees to!) developed that snowblindness camp up the end of West Quay they got rid of all the interesting boats, etc. I hope they went broke, blind and barren. Along with that barrow boy who now owns what was...

Excuse needed?? Indeed, no! I loved the White Hart. It was my local. If I went in at lunchtime, there was a Woods rum and peppermint waiting by the time I'd got to the bar. In the evening, a pint of real ale. At Christmas, you could sit by the fire and mull your own wine with the poker...

Hello, having had a great success with an enquiry about Burnham houseboats, I have a more long-one about my Uncle's old boat, Truant. She was a 30 foot, high prow cruiser, I seem to recall a Thorneycroft. She was owned by Ted Parker back around the sixties. She was always kept in a mud berth...

Carlotta, Dan, marvellous stuff! many thanks. Iris, I just couldn't recall, but that's her for sure. The irony being that my friend, who's making the sailing model of a Hilda, is married to an Iris! Thanks also for the pictures. Joe McLeod, that's him! Thanks again, MRF PS there's...

Dan, how about that? I thought he was Joe, but didn't want to appear too stupid, getting it wrong! And Di, yes. Sweet lady. God, that brings so much back to me! Joe was a skipper and a good one apparently, but a taciturn old divvel. Providence rings a slight bell, but not the Pilot Cutter...

Thanks Dan, but still no name for the Pilot Cutter? Very interesting that you mentioned Curlew though, as she was owned by Steve Bowen before he owned Vanity. I bought Vanity off him. Curlew was tucked away up the rill beyond West Quay and had no services, hence a very cheap mooring fee. But...

Richard, my wife and I restored an old wooden narrow boat and although our planks were huge, 2"x10"x34'-6" we used a steamchest from a friend and tried our first one using the timings an "expert" gave us. That plank ended up as roof beams because it was nowhere near enough. We were told an...