Aquaboy
Well-Known Member
Looks like a British Rail train ferry in Johnalison,s pic.
In the 60s there were a lot laid up in the Blackwater. We had a very interesting talk at the club a few years back from a barge skipper, whose name I'm afraid I forget, titled "It wasn't always Summer" It was an account of a trading trip from the East Coast to London in Winter. He illustrated it with some amazing winter scenes, including a couple of aerial photos taken in the 62/63 winter of the Blackwater, covered in ice, but with black tracks of clear water created by the anchored ships. He told us that that Winter some barges had been trapped in ice in the Wallet in no wind, and just drifted up and down with the tide until the ice broke and they were able to sail. It sounded horrendous.
Jimmy Lawrence used to do illustrated talks about skippering Thames barges while in trade. He's still around. The skipper you met may have been the redoubtable Bob Roberts, whose Cambria was the last vessel trading under sail in the 60s; sadly he passed away in 1982.Hi Mr L was the Barge Skippers name Bob by any chance; used to see a Barge Lying to quay at Upnor during 60s his name was Bob ??????
He was trading East Coast at the time
Nothing new there then.For a half boat....
OK.. I apologise. I am being naughty..
My brother was a cadet on one of these. I remember my father driving me to Mersea towing a sailing dinghy and then going in the Clarke &Carter launch to deliver the it to the laid up ship. Sailing around the Blackwater was about the only means of recreation for the skeleton crew aboard (three persons? ).In the 60s there were a lot laid up in the Blackwater. We had a very interesting talk at the club a few years back from a barge skipper, whose name I'm afraid I forget, titled "It wasn't always Summer" It was an account of a trading trip from the East Coast to London in Winter. He illustrated it with some amazing winter scenes, including a couple of aerial photos taken in the 62/63 winter of the Blackwater, covered in ice, but with black tracks of clear water created by the anchored ships. He told us that that Winter some barges had been trapped in ice in the Wallet in no wind, and just drifted up and down with the tide until the ice broke and they were able to sail. It sounded horrendous.
Channel is looking quite narrow.... it would be quite easy to accidentally "discover" that sandbank off Felixstowe beach.
Channel is looking quite narrow.... it would be quite easy to accidentally "discover" that sandbank off Felixstowe beach.