RIP Percy Blandford.

As I mentioned to Sire just now, this thread must be the best response I've ever seen on these forums to a designer, a tribute to the thousands of people who found enjoyment with Percy Blandfords' designs; I hope his family are aware of this.
 
Seajet said:
As I mentioned to Sire just now, this thread must be the best response I've ever seen on these forums to a designer, a tribute to the thousands of people who found enjoyment with Percy Blandfords' designs; I hope his family are aware of this.
Click to expand...

I'm sure they are - you should check the FB link I posted earlier.
It's a real shame that he never received any "official" recognition during his lifetime; I'm sure many MBE's / OBE's / Knighthoods / etc. have been awarded for a smaller contribution to society.
 
Sire,

I just had a look at the Facebook site, impressive; I think I've applied to join the PB appreciation society, but I'm never sure with Facebook !

Please feel free to put the Foamcrest cutting & letter there if you like.

There's an appreciation to the designer of my boat, Oliver Lee - he's featured in this months' PBO - on the ' Community ' section of these forums, click Community in the dark blue band above forum headings, ' The Genius of Oliver Lee '; it's a very good effort by Europa owner Little Rascal, but no-one's aware of these things which is where Facebook will score every time.

I was going to suggest something to Percy Blandford could be put there but with Facebook on the scene already I don't suppose there's much point.
 
Seajet said:
Sire,

I just had a look at the Facebook site, impressive; I think I've applied to join the PB appreciation society, but I'm never sure with Facebook !

Please feel free to put the Foamcrest cutting & letter there if you like.

There's an appreciation to the designer of my boat, Oliver Lee - he's featured in this months' PBO - on the ' Community ' section of these forums, click Community in the dark blue band above forum headings, ' The Genius of Oliver Lee '; it's a very good effort by Europa owner Little Rascal, but no-one's aware of these things which is where Facebook will score every time.

I was going to suggest something to Percy Blandford could be put there but with Facebook on the scene already I don't suppose there's much point.
Click to expand...

The FB group is an "open" group now, I think you can post there straight away?

And I wonder if PBO would consider an article about Percy Blandford? Maybe they are working on one already?
 
PBO certainly should do, I wondered that; there's scope for featuring a designer every month for quite a while, after all they seem short on content these days and that would be something of interest to a lot of people; I'd like to know about all the great designers, they don't have to have done a boat I own !
 
I am Percy's Grandaughter Carole and would like to say thankyou for all of your kind words and memories. Percy wrote an autobiography which myself and my sister Diane will hopefully beable to get published one day. If you have an questions concerning Percy and his boats please dont hesitate to get in touch and my self or my sister will try to answer them x Regards Carole Blandford
 
Hi
I'm the bloke that wrote the Daily Telegraph Obit. I'm collecting information for a book on the great man.
I rebuilt two of his fabric covered canoes with a Woodcraft Folk (The paramilitary wing of the Co-op)
I also built a 16ft Nomad Cabin Cruiser, The motor version of his famous Lysander. It took me, my wife and young son all over the southern rivers and canals in the 1970's. Thames, Grand Union, Wey, Kennet and Avon when you could only reach Aldermaston, Basinstoke Canal. We had great fun for ten years until the ply started to delaminate. We gave it to a youth Club in Paddington who enjoyed it for a bit.
I bought articles from Percy in the 1980's when I was Editing a Camping and Caravanning Magazine. All his plans are still available from a firm in the USA where he was more famous and appreciated than over here. He wrote regular columns for a few US craft, woodwork, and similar magazines.
 
Peter Frost said:
Hi
I'm the bloke that wrote the Daily Telegraph Obit. I'm collecting information for a book on the great man.
I rebuilt two of his fabric covered canoes with a Woodcraft Folk (The paramilitary wing of the Co-op)
I also built a 16ft Nomad Cabin Cruiser, The motor version of his famous Lysander. It took me, my wife and young son all over the southern rivers and canals in the 1970's. Thames, Grand Union, Wey, Kennet and Avon when you could only reach Aldermaston, Basinstoke Canal. We had great fun for ten years until the ply started to delaminate. We gave it to a youth Club in Paddington who enjoyed it for a bit.
I bought articles from Percy in the 1980's when I was Editing a Camping and Caravanning Magazine. All his plans are still available from a firm in the USA where he was more famous and appreciated than over here. He wrote regular columns for a few US craft, woodwork, and similar magazines.
Click to expand...

I am very saddened that the powers that be have banned my sister for announcing our gramps autobiography as you can see by this thread many people got on the water due to Percy Blandford and have very fond memories of him this book was written by him at the age of 95 as i kept nagging him to write his stories down although he said nobody else would be interested in reading them how wrong he was. This book is a non profit making book myself and my sister Diane just wanted to get it out there we both enjoy reading the threads on here about Gramp and I am hoping that you will lift the ban from my sister as she and i were both shocked and saddened by it thankyou regards Carole Blandford
 
auntpeg44 said:
I am very saddened that the powers that be have banned my sister for announcing our gramps autobiography as you can see by this thread many people got on the water due to Percy Blandford and have very fond memories of him this book was written by him at the age of 95 as i kept nagging him to write his stories down although he said nobody else would be interested in reading them how wrong he was. This book is a non profit making book myself and my sister Diane just wanted to get it out there we both enjoy reading the threads on here about Gramp and I am hoping that you will lift the ban from my sister as she and i were both shocked and saddened by it thankyou regards Carole Blandford
Click to expand...

+1
 
I couldn't agree more Carole, and have just contacted the YBW ' webmaster ' about this; the decision to ban Diane and mention of the book is utterly bizarre and heavy handed to say the least; a ' Not for profit, labour of love ' book which would be of widespread interest to the people on these forums.

Meanwhile boat delivery companies, brokers and chandlers are free to mention their profit oriented businesses...
 
oldharry said:
PBK canoe at age around 8 onwards, followed by his Lysander - a boxy little gunter rigged weekender which gave us enormous fun, but was surprisingly seaworthy and di everything we asked of it well. An ideal beginner boat, safe, forgiving and tremendous fun. Thanks Percy, your memory lives on for many of us.

Ranks with Arthur Ransome as one who in his heyday introduced so many of us to boating and sailing.
Click to expand...

Carole & Diane,

I think my friend Old Harry sums it up very well; I can't help wondering if the YBW moderators have ever been near a boat, if they don't recognise the significance of Percy Blandford; as I recall this thread got the most posts and interest ever shown for a designer...
 
Seajet said:
I couldn't agree more Carole, and have just contacted the YBW ' webmaster ' about this; the decision to ban Diane and mention of the book is utterly bizarre and heavy handed to say the least; a ' Not for profit, labour of love ' book which would be of widespread interest to the people on these forums.

Meanwhile boat delivery companies, brokers and chandlers are free to mention their profit oriented businesses...
Click to expand...

Well done sea jet it's an utter disgrace !! Amongst others on here it was Percy Blandford who started me off on my love of watercraft .......all started with a set of plans for his PBK 10 canoe which was build in my family back garden at the age of13 .
 
I've just found this thread, Percy was pivotal in my early Scouting career - I had the enormous privilege of his wisdom at Scouts some 25 years ago, when I was a young Sea Scout at Newbold (the troop he started in his home village).

Today I'm the Scout Leader of Newbold and we are in the process of renaming part of the troop name to reflect his past history with us. We still have some of his PBK kayaks in pristine condition, still Scout registered and safety tested!
 
auntpeg44 said:
I am very saddened that the powers that be have banned my sister for announcing our gramps autobiography as you can see by this thread many people got on the water due to Percy Blandford and have very fond memories of him this book was written by him at the age of 95 as i kept nagging him to write his stories down although he said nobody else would be interested in reading them how wrong he was. This book is a non profit making book myself and my sister Diane just wanted to get it out there we both enjoy reading the threads on here about Gramp and I am hoping that you will lift the ban from my sister as she and i were both shocked and saddened by it thankyou regards Carole Blandford
Click to expand...

+1. Shameful
 
SiteSurfer said:
I've just found this thread, Percy was pivotal in my early Scouting career - I had the enormous privilege of his wisdom at Scouts some 25 years ago, when I was a young Sea Scout at Newbold (the troop he started in his home village).

Today I'm the Scout Leader of Newbold and we are in the process of renaming part of the troop name to reflect his past history with us. We still have some of his PBK kayaks in pristine condition, still Scout registered and safety tested!
Click to expand...

In the early 60's my father built a PBK22 for me to go on the Scouts canoe cruise on the Avon and Severn, I still remember the blisters!
 
I thik I replied to this thread at it's start but to repeat, I built my first boat a PBK single seatercanoe from a kit when I was 12, without adult aid, in an old stable behind a nursing home owned by a friend's parents, my friend built his there too aided by his father ( cheat!). Ten years later I built a 10-11ft PB design runabout from plans only. I used the runabout with 25hp motor briefly on holidays mostly for sea fishing but at the time I lived miles inland and it was eventually sold to make way for a sailing dinghy to use on the local gravel pits after I got really into sail following taking part in the 1962 Tall Ships Race via Ocean Youth Club and Theodora. My local inland chandler at that time (in Fairford, GLos). supplied materials, maybe even kits for PB designs from a woodworking shop behind his small chandlery. MY canoe kit was the first and the only boat I bought new and at a boatshow ( Earls Court), IIRC it was paid for also by writing my first ever cheque from my first real bank account.

So I will add my voice to the chorus wondering WTF is going on when we cannot allow Percy's memory to be discussed

Thinking back there was a magazine at the time 'Small Boat Craft' or similar IIRC, probably taken over and morphed into PBO, which really makes nonsense of what is going on here:disgust:
 
Seajet said:
I couldn't agree more Carole, and have just contacted the YBW ' webmaster ' about this; the decision to ban Diane and mention of the book is utterly bizarre and heavy handed to say the least; a ' Not for profit, labour of love ' book which would be of widespread interest to the people on these forums.

Meanwhile boat delivery companies, brokers and chandlers are free to mention their profit oriented businesses...
Click to expand...
Not to mention those left turners, who ensure their videos are front page & not only on the YBW but many fora
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

W
Doing up a old boat Andromeda
Replies
4
Views
277
ianc1200
ianc1200

Share this page

Top