C.Ricko

Thanks guys, I have never dared post on the other site incase I got gaught up in a b*tch fight! Terry, I do recognise the avatar, it brings back distant memories! Perhaps if you said 'one of' the oldest I'd get away with it, also get some of your photos up on here before I do ! As for the Racecourse, well its not just the friendly, fun family atmosphere, ample parking massive indoor and outdoor play areas or great carvery and menu which make it so good, it also has fantastic air conditioning Brian! (shameless plug(s) over!)

Hello, This is what I wrote on the BMPT forum a while back, if she was a Fairmile D then she would have been 112 feet long but unladen not drawn more than about 3 or 4 feet if that, not much more than a sailing boat. if you are interested there are more 'anoracks' and info on Ex military houseboats on the broads here. http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=282&PN=1 most of the info came from Carol. Hi All, I think I found the remains of MTB 653 a couple of months ago, if it is what I think it is. I could not get a very good picture but will try again from the water or borrow a decent camera. there is very little of her (presuming it is) but my reason for the assumption is the shape and length of her stem, it is dead straight and quite long. there is no deck, the aft disappears into some trees and 'pointing' to the right there is no starboard side in her, except for a couple of feet, there is probably 20-30 feet of the forward port withonly the interior visable, you can see numerous timbers/ frames which seem quite close together and the bow is quite sharp. I am sorry for not having a photo to discuss but she is in the S/E corner of Salhouse broad in Norfolk, you cannot see her from google earth but is just to the top right of the 'boat shaped' clump of trees.

Thanks for the offers, the scanning problem is that my girlfriend does all the Graphic design for us and she is busy with the brochure but I can squeeze a few in every now and then! I will take some home tonight. I think we looked in 'Black sailed traders' but although there was a list of wherries built and their builders Robert Kemp does not get a mention! Regarding the private moorings, yes it is a bit of a mud bath at the moment but will look really good in a week or two, the wet shed is also getting 15 new private moorings as well as new roof lights and shed side, apparently it is the biggest wet shed in the UK, can anyone confirm this ? Anway, I am not really here to talk about the business just share some interesting points, perhaps I should get a different hat (probably a tin one!) and log in under the business name to talk about all our wonderful facilities! Chers, Clive.

I have a few photos for that thread, problem is scanning them all, 'British Queen' is said to be on Rockland broad, I do have a better picture of her, Kemp sold the wherry to Fred Miller in 1873 who also bought the yard. Dad bought the yard back in 1943.

Hello again, Thanks, how about this? The wherry in the picture is 'British Queen' Robert Kemp did not build it he did build 'Chieftain' and 2 or 3 others, it is written in a book which they were But I have been unable to find out which book! Glad you find it interesting. Clive.

Hi all, Thought this may be of interest, Robert Kemp is the Great Great Grandfather of me and Paul (Richardson) and our sister Laura. He started building Wherries behind his Fathers pub 'The Lady of the Lake' in Oulton Broad on Lake Lothing before moving to Commodore road where he built a shed behind old mill house.