Where is she now?

VicS

VicS

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The Pierrette. Built ca 1894 by George Desvignes. Recovered as a wreck rebuilt and relaunched in the early 1950s by my father's boss.

Pictured on the relaunching day at Wooton's yard, Cookham. J.B.Hickey, my fathers boss, at the helm and Frank Desvignes, George's son, aged about 90 in the "engineers" seat.

Coal fired loco type boiler operating at 150psi and a twin cylinder engine.

When fully operational she had a full length canopy

Please PM me if you know anything about this boat.

983613.jpg
 
Reasonably confident she isn't on the Thames unless she is re-modelled and has a cabin, have you also posted this in the classsic boat forum ?
 
Assuming you've asked Guy Wooton, how about a visit to Peter Freebody at Hurley (he did his apprenticeship at Wootons, must of been around that time), and is a mine of information on such matters.

IanC
 
No I havn't tried the classic boat forum. I dont want to do multiple posting at least not just yet. She was sold by J.B. Hickey's son about !0 years or so later (I think JB died in early '55) and taken to the broads, I was on her final trip on the Thames but I have long been under the impression that she was brought back to the Thames at a later date. In fact since making the above post I have discovered a picture of her Here at the 2004 Beale Park regatta. So definitely on the Thames in 2004 and belonging to a "Bill Rose".

No body would dare fit a cabin on a classic like that now I hope although she was converted to a house boat at some time before being rescued by JB. The original steam engine had also been replaced by a petrol engine.
 
Thanks, No. Those parts are a bit away from my normal stamping ground. Something worth following up though.
 
The Boat Listing site states "PIERRETTE Built by G F G in 1894 - Length: 43 feet 3 inches (13.20 metres) Beam: 6 feet 2 inches (1.90 metres). 0 Steam Inboard power of 40HP. Registered with EA Thames Region number T0182 as a Non Hire Annual. Last registration recorded on 19-Apr-05."

Also isn't Bill Rose the person who used to run the Phillips (now Bonhams) auction of classic boats at Henley which happens whilst the Trad Rally is on?

IanC
 
VicS

I have had an e mail from the editor of The Boater (of the Thames Vintage Boat Club) magazine to confirm she is in Bill Roses's collection, and Mr Rose is allowing a visit of the TCBC to have a look at his collection in June. If you wanted to see her you could join the TVBC and come along!

Guy Wootton also has a photograph (I assume old photo) of her moored off their moorings.

ianC
 
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