Strange story of yacht aground near Eastbourne

[Tomahawk]

This story restores your faith in human kindness....

 

[saltylegs]

Gerry might need some help getting back on his feet, is there some way we could make a donation through PBO that could go towards his refit? (Moderator)

 

[sarabande]

two posts higher up...


Anyone who feels able to help Gerry in some way should contact Ross Wey on 0777 6487889


I've spoken with Ross Wey, and Gerry is still in care, but is expecting to be released a lot healthier and happier in a week or so.

Ross is a very very kind man,ánd says that his address at CWey Transport

Ross Perkins
C-Wey Boat Transportation
Britannia,
Victory Dock,
Coast Road,
West Mersea,
Essex
C05 8LT

is open to receive helpful contributions for Gerry when he returns to his boat.

I did suggest a Paypal transaction but that would lead to unnecessary admin and accounting to separate donations from his business.


Over to you......

 

[davidej]

Perhaps you all did not see this recent thread

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?353701-Marie-Celeste-back-at-Mersea&highlight=marie+celeste

 

[saltylegs]

Thanks Sarabande / Davidej

 

[Skyclad]

I know this is a really old thread. I found it while doing a search for Gerry van Dongen and it was the only thing I found. It was certainly very interesting and I hope no one minds my reviving it to add a bit of background information.

Gerry van Dongen is the ex-husband of my wife. They were together during the 70s and early 80s and led a somewhat hippie-type existence in which drink and drugs were part of the regular diet. In fact, my wife always said there were large parts of the 70s she could not remember. Gerry's father, a Dutch immigrant, had a small workshop making reproduction furniture and Gerry was an experienced carpenter I think there are still one or two pieces in the house that he made. Unfortunately, he was much more interested in sex, heavy rock and getting high - not necessarily in that order. My wife said that he always thought he was smarter than he really was. He had some brushes with the law and spent time in prison for stabbing a man at a New Year's Eve party. When drunk or high he had a violent temper.

He seemed to crave adventure. One time, he and my wife (they were not married at the time) decided to hitchhike to India and come home on a Magic Bus. They got as far as Germany and ran into blizzards so they gave up. A couple of years later they went on a road trip in an old Hillman with another couple through France, Spain and Morocco. They mostly camped in tents although there was a period of working in a French vineyard. This adventure lasted months rather than weeks and much time was spent seeking out local drug dealers. When they returned to England, my wife worked as a secretary and provided most of the income. They lived for a time in a large communal flat in Brentwood before eventually settling in Tilbury. Gerry helped himself to whatever money there was and sometimes disappeared for days at a time. He eventually ran off with someone else.

After the divorce, he was full of remorse and begged to be taken back. Then he simply began to "borrow" money. I only met him once - when he apparently came to assess the current situation. After we moved, he did not have our address or phone number and we no longer heard from him. Once in a while, there was a "I wonder what hapened to Gerry" moment. We expected to hear that he had either been arrested or died. In the early 2000s we heard he was in Romford.

Does anyone know what has happened to Gerry since this incident in Eastbourne? The reason I was searching for him was that I thought he might want to know that his former wife and alleged soul mate had died. I think that, despite everything, she still maintained a bit of affection for him. I wish I had found this thread while she was still alive because I think she would have got a big laugh out of it. I can imagine her saying: "Oh, yes - that's Gerry all right!"

 

[davidej]

I live by the waterfront at West Mersea and, to my knowledge, he hasn’t been seen here since that episode.

 

[Juan Twothree]

We expected to hear that he had either been arrested or died. In the early 2000s we heard he was in Romford.

So even worse than you feared?

Interesting story though, thanks for sharing it.

Whatever his rights and wrongs, he sounds quite a character.

 

[jac]

I know this is a really old thread. I found it while doing a search for Gerry van Dongen and it was the only thing I found. It was certainly very interesting and I hope no one minds my reviving it to add a bit of background information.

Gerry van Dongen is the ex-husband of my wife. They were together during the 70s and early 80s and led a somewhat hippie-type existence in which drink and drugs were part of the regular diet. In fact, my wife always said there were large parts of the 70s she could not remember. Gerry's father, a Dutch immigrant, had a small workshop making reproduction furniture and Gerry was an experienced carpenter I think there are still one or two pieces in the house that he made. Unfortunately, he was much more interested in sex, heavy rock and getting high - not necessarily in that order. My wife said that he always thought he was smarter than he really was. He had some brushes with the law and spent time in prison for stabbing a man at a New Year's Eve party. When drunk or high he had a violent temper.

He seemed to crave adventure. One time, he and my wife (they were not married at the time) decided to hitchhike to India and come home on a Magic Bus. They got as far as Germany and ran into blizzards so they gave up. A couple of years later they went on a road trip in an old Hillman with another couple through France, Spain and Morocco. They mostly camped in tents although there was a period of working in a French vineyard. This adventure lasted months rather than weeks and much time was spent seeking out local drug dealers. When they returned to England, my wife worked as a secretary and provided most of the income. They lived for a time in a large communal flat in Brentwood before eventually settling in Tilbury. Gerry helped himself to whatever money there was and sometimes disappeared for days at a time. He eventually ran off with someone else.

After the divorce, he was full of remorse and begged to be taken back. Then he simply began to "borrow" money. I only met him once - when he apparently came to assess the current situation. After we moved, he did not have our address or phone number and we no longer heard from him. Once in a while, there was a "I wonder what hapened to Gerry" moment. We expected to hear that he had either been arrested or died. In the early 2000s we heard he was in Romford.

Does anyone know what has happened to Gerry since this incident in Eastbourne? The reason I was searching for him was that I thought he might want to know that his former wife and alleged soul mate had died. I think that, despite everything, she still maintained a bit of affection for him. I wish I had found this thread while she was still alive because I think she would have got a big laugh out of it. I can imagine her saying: "Oh, yes - that's Gerry all right!"

Good luck in finding him and very sorry for your loss.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

wouldn't it be great if some one at that posh marina arranged for the fees to be paid by the local council as housing benefit
cant you just see people turning up for a week end with his boat on the pontoon washing out and him talking with a plum in his gob
I'll donate a dinner jacket
SOOO FUNNY

Que???