Launched on the Thames 1951. Remember her?

[stuhaynes]

Just received this pic' from Carol, who's the daughter of the Doctor who commissioned the boat in 1951. She was launched from Geo Wilson's yard. just wondered if anyone remembers the boat or where the picture was taken.

 

[ianc1200]

Stu

Is "Flaxedil" the previous name of your boat Cygnus Vedrae? Would have thought it unlikely to have been delivered to York by sea; perhaps this was a photo of her at a dock off the Thames prior to road/rail transport.

The only Wilson Black Swan in this area "Deglet Nour" seems to have gone, having been for sale, although a rather smart Wilson Jenny Wren has turned up opposite Byron's.

 

[Mirror Painter]

I have no information to add but was compelled to say she is beautiful.

 

[stuhaynes]

Stu

Is "Flaxedil" the previous name of your boat Cygnus Vedrae? Would have thought it unlikely to have been delivered to York by sea; perhaps this was a photo of her at a dock off the Thames prior to road/rail transport.

The only Wilson Black Swan in this area "Deglet Nour" seems to have gone, having been for sale, although a rather smart Wilson Jenny Wren has turned up opposite Byron's.

Yes she did go by road though I do believe that she could have made the trip on the inland system in the 50's. I know for a fact that she did the Leeds and Liverpool which is quite impossible now.

When she was sold she became 'Encounter' and then another name before Pat Jones bought her in 1967, he had her for 22 years. Pat was Commodore at the Ripon motor boat club. The original plan was for Pat to moor her in the North East. He registered her on the Small Ships Register but to do that he needed a unique name. Cygnus Vedrae translates from the latin as 'Swan of the Wear'.

Pat was extremely helpful, even though we never met, and in fact his son Tony came to see us and the old boat about 2 years. I was in email contact with Pat for a long time, but his emails ceased around the middle of last year. Unfortunately I didn't get his son's contact details. I do hope the old boy is okay.

I saw 'Deglet Noir' on the internet. She is 3 years older than our boat and someone has done a cracking job on her. Her internal layout is very different from CV. Also I believe that she maybe had the engine changed as she is (I think) 45HP against our original Coventry engine that is 30HP.

 

[stuhaynes]

It's very strange. In that picture she looks very small. Out of the water she looks absolutely huge!

 

[ianc1200]

Frank Robinson rebuilt Deglet Nour (an arab date, not the French noir - all according to Frank) from model plans of the Black Swans. He put in a Perkins P3 and whilst the exterior was pretty much as original the interior was quite modern. It remained at Wargrave where he rebuilt her for at least one, perhaps two, subsequent owners.

 

[Captain Coochie]

I used to moor at Wilsons ( now at Turks ) The history around the area is amazing but unknown to most people living there .
Gordon Wilson sadly passed away last year and he probably had a hand in making that boat .

 

[Alpha22]

Not informed about the history, but with the mention of York, that pic looks like it could have been taken on Kings Staith in York. The big warehouse on the top left may be what is/was called 'The Bonding Warehouse'. The buildings directly across the river are now long gone, but the river looks the right width and the stone capping and the wooden 'rail' looks just like Kings Staith.
This pic taken in 1959

I think your picture was taken just outside what is now the Kings Arms. (White building, bottom left) The pub that famously floods every winter.

 

[TrueBlue]

.... The big warehouse on the top left may be what is/was called 'The Bonding Warehouse'. QUOTE]

Is that a Yorkshire version of a dating club????

 

[JKay]

"Is that a Yorkshire version of a dating club????"

No ,that would be a farm