JennyMorgan

Simon, Hoseasons started off as a boatyard in Commodore Road before becoming, very wisely, a letting agent and selling on their boats. Bradbeers, allegedly cousins so many times removed, had a small yard that later became, if I remember correctly, Pye Marine but don't take that as gospel. I'm sure of the location but not the name. Like Hoseasons they subsequently set up as agents. Topcraft took over the old Collins/Collens Pleasurecraft yard that previously had been what we now know as Richardsons of Stalham.

Hi Fred, thanks for that, I had forgotten Pye Marine & Kevin Craft and S&M is a new one on me. Collens & Collins might be one and the same or either could be Sunway, a small yard that was owned by a Wally Collins. I remember Bells although I can't remember which premises they operated from. Actually not sure that Bells wasn't Victor Bell who later emigrated to Brundall although it might just be the same name. Victor & I, plus a few others, crossed the North Sea about 1965. Coincidently, by chance, honestly, we were held up in a lock in Kanaal Strasse when Victor took a fancy to a young lady presenting her wares in one of those famous shop windows. We'd all been hitting the sherbet over the previous 20 odd hours of the crossing & Victor was well & truly tanked up. Victor stepped off the side of the boat, shambled across the 'strasse', through the glass (without a mark on him), drew the curtains & the rest is up to your imagination! Victor was a real character!

Yards at Oulton Broad during the 1960's Fowlers, Little Ships, Newsons, Austin's, O'Heft, Broadsway, Darby's, Orient Cruisers, Fletchers, Robinsons, Collins, Sunway, Hoseasons, Trumans, Knight's Creek, Clevelands, Hampton/Safari & Bradbeers. Pretty certain that's right, might have missed one or two.

Simon, back then all the yards on the Broads had a reciprocal mooring agreement, e.g. the clients of one yard could more at any other yard. Obviously if a yard had mooring that were unavailable to other boats from other yards then they would be outside that agreement. History has it that Fowlers, with which I was involved, had 18 boats for hire yet we had space for 60 moorings after we bought what is now the Waveney River Centre. We agreed that we should maintain 18 free moorings but would charge for the other 42. Neither Blakes nor Hoseasons would accept that so we moved the boats to Ripplecraft at Somerleyton and charged for all 60 moorings at Burgh St Peters. We were soon to realize that we could make more and easier money by not having the hire fleet so we eventually sold them all to Ripplecraft. We were one of the first to abandon Oulton Broad, we were one of eighteen hire yards there in the 60's.

Their boats had red whale logos on their bows. The yards were often ones that neither Blakes nor Hoseasons would except, such as yards that didn't actually have a premises on the Broads proper. For example some folk hired their boats from Oulton Broad Yacht Station whilst their yards were on the seaward side of the 'lock' meaning that holiday boats couldn't moor there.

Then it would be Normal for Suffolk!

Probably thought that you were telling him which way to go, or was that where to go?

But of choice I would prefer

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/river-festival-more-boat-moorings-and-completion-of-missing-walkways-proposed-in-bold-new-vision-for-norwich-s-river-wensum-1-5122148

Thanks for taking the time to relate your experiences to us, good reading!

100% in agreement but, and there has to be one of them, in regard to pushing the potential problem elsewhere, if the industry were to be less tolerant to those likely to cause the problem then maybe those of that ilk would be less likely to book a holiday on the Broads. In other words don't promote the Broads as being suitable for irresponsible louts.

I enjoy the program but Desmond is hardly normal for Norfolk! Great concept but hardly a great 'Norfolk' character, far too posh!

Back to the Wherry, it is part of the Castle Carveries set-up, a money making machine, a very successful formula and, as far as carveries go, very good, as far as I'm concerned. I like and enjoy their formula, I get what I want at a price that I'm happy to pay in a busy environment that I find appealing. We have three other branded carveries in the area & the Wherry is my favourite, in my view they have got it right & judging by the footfall plenty of other folk agree. If my wife & I want individual pampering, in a lush surrounding, then we head to The Ivy. Just a question of choice.

I live there, a mile's walk & I'm really spoilt for choice! Oulton Broad has some very good pubs & eateries As for cooking facilities I have two single hob gas cookers and a barbecue, more than adequate, doesn't take much to cook a Mars Bar (I jest!)

You might be surprised to know that I have indeed shared good and often excellent company on various motor boats !

Each to their own, Boycee, just not my cup of tea. Granted I rarely go in there now but if I do then it's for a chat with Richard (NBF) and he rates it highly so you are not alone!

http://www.ivyhousecountryhotel.co.uk/

Perhaps you could let the Environment Agency know of your concerns.

My son in-law works under some pressure in London during the week. His treat, when he comes home for the weekend, apart from playing with his young son, is the half mile walk to the Wherry for breakfast!

Carol, the monotonous thump of a tireless diesel versus the grunts from a tired crew working on their paddles, absolutely no comparison!

I can remember beer at 1/10p a pint when up North!

Not at four o'clock in the morning I haven't! However his sherbets are to die for!

I would say Commodore for young folk who don't want to pile on the pounds. Good food, hughley popular with the locals. The Wherry for older folk who do, excellent carvery. Does tend to be packed on a Sunday. The Lady of The Lake, cattle class . . . . . . . The Smoke House, just looks unappetising, yet to try it. The Waveney, on Sundays you need to keep your elbows in, good food but no view of the Broad. The Red Herring, trendy, the place to be seen. The Broadland Holiday Village, great, if you can find somewhere to sit. Justly popular. Ivy Farm, superb, lovely place to wander around and enjoy the view.

As opposed to Northern Nancies mobbing because a sailing boat got in their way!