trambo

On a similar thread on another forum, Simon of Topcraft says they are in no hurry to sell off the boatyard.

I blame the Daily Mail. Although to be fair I blame everything wrong with Britain today on the Daily Mail, so I might be biased!

Very sad about Topcraft. A very innovative yard . I recall their 'Lady of Spain' Caribbeans with the flying bridge. Very much ahead of their time. Must say for a yard about to close their boats were beautifully presented when we were down in June. They seemed to be all out on hire as well which makes me wonder if there is perhaps a land value issue for closing? I do remember in the 60s when they were marketed by Bradbeers they operated as Robinson-Topcraft. To add to Clives list I can include Bell Marine Broadsway C & M Cruisers Collen A. Fuller Kevincraft Knight Creek F. Miller Millstream Orient Cruisers W.S. Parker Pegg Pye Stock & Morris Fred

Thanks Jill. Corny,dreadful miming but great fun and a smashing song. What a good looking sod he was in those days too!

I'll have to be careful what I'm scratching in the future!

Hi Chipmorton. Thorpe bridges are very low. The east end has slightly more headroom 6' 2'' at average high water while the west (Norwich end) just 6'. With an average rise and fall of 1' 6" you should not have a problem if you do a bit of planning. The commissioners dyke is a good stop to wait,just before the island if you find you your timings a bit out as we did on Silver Symphony (an Opel 28) this year. Have a very soft spot for Thorpe as it was from here I had my first Broads holiday on the 'King of Hearts" way back in 1962. Fred ps. there is a great barbers shop next to the wine bar across the road from the the green.

You ADMIT you watch X Factor? Think the mods better sort you to quick. In saying that...Leona Lewis...FABulous ... just don't tell anyone I watch it....please.

I think Jill has been looking for an excuse to share those You Tube clips 'Wooden Heart' is my own personal favourite.Not much good to jive to but then at my age........ Fred

Hi Chipmorton. Afraid it's closed, although rumours have it that it may reopen. Love October on the Broads, best time in my opinion. Have a great vacation. Fred

Katii. What a great name for a beautiful girl. I'm afraid introducing a new cat to another can be an ongoing battle. Our two have taken nearly two years to fully accept each other. Although our girl was never aggressive to the boy she let her feelings known to him and to us as well. Feed me but you are not going to stroke me was the order of the day for quite a few months! In the end we just let them get on with it and now peace and friendship usually prevails. Fred

Black swans are so beautiful and seem to be a little more common than they used to be. Saw the ones at Salhouse this year and this pair at Heigham Sound last year. Fred

I bet there was some clever sod saying "Bl**dy hire boats. All the same!"

As someone who reads more than posts on this forum I have enjoyed Neil's contributions. Especially his fondness for Maffett's which I share. I too have made misguide comments on web groups, in one case finding myself banned. I felt at the time foolish and apologetic but was not given the chance to rejoin. Fortunately this forum is more open and Neil can still post, (as I'm sure he wants) if he wishes. As for the way Dan handled the situation I have nothing but praise. He showed courtesy, restraint and understanding at all times and should be thanked by all for handling comments which have upset many. Fred

What I find particularly disturbing is the reason for the riots which has yet to be explained and the wide social diversity of the rioters. My home city is Liverpool and comparing todays events to those that happened in Toxteth during the 80's when yes there was deprivation, unfairness and bad policing is just unbelievable. While not everything is perfect, things are so very much better today and yet Liverpool and Manchester still fell to the anarchistic tendency that is always lurking just below the surface in todays society. Something is very wrong in our society and a lot has been said on this thread about respect and this is surely the key to the problem. Without respect we are on the slippery slope to mayhem and eventually a totalitarian (left or right) regime. Look at history and not only beware but be very frightened by the consequences if we don't get it right. Fred

Smellyloo your spot on but respect should be tought first and formost by parents. Fred

To be honest I could not give a reasoned answer to recent events at the moment. I was watching BBC24 live Monday all evening I can only say I felt so numb, ashamed and saddened at events as they unfolded. I agree only scum would destroy property and peoples homes for what seemed to be no more reason than thuggery. I would love the perpetrators to feel how their victims are feeling. There seems to be a growing lack of respect in this country for people and property and I include people of all ages and many institutions in this. In the short term the police (or army) must regain law and order, whatever it takes if it saves someones home or livelihood. The reasons for what has happened and the answers to the problem I'm sure will keep people debating for a long while but at this time I can only think of those who have suffered at the hands of these thugs. Fred

Had Silver Symphony for a fortnight at the end of June. Fuel deposit was £150 and was amazed that we got well over £50 back. Especially as Symphony has a rear hydraulic engine (tends to use more fuel) and we used the heating during the first week due to chilly nights. I had planned the route to move with the tides in most cases, especially on the lower Bure and Southern Broads. Also kept the revs down (although did not crawl) which seems to have paid off but I was still more than a little surprised at the refund. Fred

Every one does have the right to free speech and long may it be cherished. However we do not have the right to incite hate and for that reason discrimination and equality laws are so very important. Look at history and you will see why they came about. Getting back to the main thread, I think the no same sex groups rule printed in the brochures can be taken with a pinch of salt. Royalls have told me they would be glad of my business and I recently was talking to an all male group on a Summercraft boat. If you speak to the boatyard describing your group I think that should solve the problem. Unless your on a stag do! Fred

Wow! All those bathtubs in flames. Gone to hell where they all belong! Fred p.s Long live real boats!

I forgot about the back line up. The white hulled craft is one of O. Heftts 'Sonnet' class, far right possibly a Collins Pleasure Craft and you can just make out a Brinkcraft behind 'Rushleen". That just leaves the white hulled craft on the gantry, which I will leave to someone with better eyesight! Fred

Thanks Carol and everyone. It was the enclosed wheelhouse that got me so I'll plump for Osprey 2. Regards fred

Hello all. Silverline have a new build 'Silverline 40' under construction named Silver Simoom. A slightly unusual name for a Broads craft I would have thought but then Silverlines fleet is rather hot! Link to their website page http://www.silverlinemarine.co.uk/Galle ... Simoom.htm Fred

Scan of a Princess from the Blakes list of 1966, which was also the first Broads brochure to be produced in colour. Interesting note that the class which had been partially fitted with refrigerators had now reverted to the Blakes ice-box scheme after Blakes banned gas refrigerators for a number of years on safety grounds. Have heard that Aston Boats had blue hulls ( this might be just folk law) because Jim Prior, the Conservative politician was a director.

Just a note that the yard we call Astons and what is now Princess was up to 1967 Princess Cruisers Ltd and was founded around 1958. Most of the fleet was in the style of Aston Lion but the also had two 3 berth boats Fairy and Pixie Princess which passed on to Alpha Craft as their Mustang and Spitfire. The last build for Princess was Emerald Princess in 1966 later to become Aston Emerald. Although like the rest of the Princess fleet she was an all wood, all varnished craft she had an Aston house look and plan about her. Aston's yard at this time was I think at Bill Maxted's and they ran a much smaller fleet of mainly Aston Poppy type classes. I have no idea who took over who or even if the were the same company using different agencies but in 1968 Princess cruisers basin became Aston boats main yard and the fleet (except Emerald) painted in Astons distinctive livery.

Hello Springsong. Great period photograph. She is either the 'Five of Hearts' or the 'Six of Hearts'. I think the six but my only evidence is from memory. Regards Fred