The raft man at Richmond. Fire

I hope he rebuilds his floating home again. To me the 'island' was as much of the Thames Scene as the Ducks & Swans. It sorrowed me when the old boy who lived on the Island at Reading was deemed too old to look after himself and was removed.
 
That's what it always looks like!

Outinthedinghy said:
I went past him on bank holiday Monday and there were some salvage tugs a small grp cruiser some random dinghies and a bit of burnt raft.
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I must have been past later, there was some activity already, there is often tugs and random cruisers hanging off the buoys just beside him.
 
That's very sad; as young Byron said, the raft added colour to the river scene and it would be disappointing if he is prevented from rebuilding it.

Society doesn't like those who stick their heads above the parapet, preferring that all must comply. Eccentrics perhaps should be tolerated, provided they are not a danger to themselves and others.

On the non tidal part there are boats occupied by wanderers who are roundly condemned by most here and on the towpath - as it were. In my experience - apart from occupying mooring space - they are mostly inoffensive and leave their moorings clean when they move on.

However, it's difficult to distinguish between their like and the few that really don't give tinkers' cuss and treat the environment with contempt.
 
Ian was given a small cruiser by Lion Boathouse to tide him and his SWMBO over until they re-build their lives.
 
It certainly is a small cruiser! I hope there is room for the dog on board.

It must have been quite a fire. I sailed close to the raft a few days after it happened and was shocked how little there was left.
 
alistairedw said:
It certainly is a small cruiser! I hope there is room for the dog on board.
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Not quite. You see, they didn't have an outboard, so the Dog lives in the transom well, and performs duties as requested.

He does better during a following tide, but uses little fuel...


I hope a rebuilding can be performed, the River needs a few characters like him!
 
Erm, should we do something as a group... to help? Silly fund raising, subtle donations (money or parts or plants)?
 
I have

Andrew_Fanner said:
Glad he is OK, always looked out for him when we went past. The children thought his home was great, the ultimate expression of the dens we all built when younger.
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Just run past him (0730 thought I would drop that in) it looks like the poor chap is living in an old Fairline 19, the raft is gutted but the trail rafts seem to be intact. I am not sure if he is the type of chap who would welcome donations but there are others on here who know him and would be able to judge the mood better.
 
RichardShead said:
Just run past him (0730 thought I would drop that in) it looks like the poor chap is living in an old Fairline 19, the raft is gutted but the trail rafts seem to be intact. I am not sure if he is the type of chap who would welcome donations but there are others on here who know him and would be able to judge the mood better.
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Rather than - or perhaps in addition to funds, I suspect donation of material and physical help might be more acceptable; and indeed more practical.

I have an huge 20' x 20' new, that is unused, (proper) canvas tarpaulin that I am happy to donate. It's very heavy so it really needs framing in place before it's delivered. Indeed it may be too heavy.

I hesitate to offer, 'cos it's a project - no gunnel strips - but I also have an 8ft fibreglass dinghy shell which may be of use.

If folks are really serious a local organiser is needed to marshal resources and draw up a list of what's needed.

There's a chance the poor chap may be inundated with stuff he can't use.

I'm on the south coast and my boat is on the wrong part of the river to offer much physical resource.

Does that get the ball rolling?
 
I had a small job in St Margrets today so i took the camera .

He seems to be collecting quite a pile of , of erm , sh*t on the towpath



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And has bagged him self Nigel Planers old boat ( well it was someone famous anyway )


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A message for all who want to help ...



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The pile

Cuchilo said:
I had a small job in St Margrets today so i took the camera .

He seems to be collecting quite a pile of , of erm , sh*t on the towpath



005-9.jpg



And has bagged him self Nigel Planers old boat ( well it was someone famous anyway )


018.jpg




A message for all who want to help ...



008-6.jpg
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of bits and bobs is always there in fact it looks good compared to the old Roller and dodgy dory further up!
 
The tug folk from Eel Pie towed an old houseboat through Sunbury Lock yesterday while I was working on Jedi. The houseboat was a moribund thing apparently going to "the Essex Marshes or Medway, probably to die", a pity really as it was an ex Navy steam pinnace from 1906, just not much beyond a hull, deck and garden shed on top. Would have been palatial to the raft man.
 
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