trambo

Well, he was at least a good judge of character . Thanks for reminding me of a genuinely lovely person. Fred

Spot on. Listen and you may agree, disagree or partially agree but you have listened. Listen, so important but how often do we all react without doing that? Fred

I agree but to add that we need to understand why society at the time accepted such behaviour or we condemn that society outright. Fred

It looks like the iconic film Gone with the Wind and William Gladstone are getting the treatment, How long before we have Shakespear's The Merchant of Venice banned? I say again, you can not judge other social times by todays standards. You may find a 1930s film racist (and so many were as well as sexist) and uncomfortable to watch but to ban or hide them away is nothing but censorship and an insult to the viewer. Take the 1936 film version of Showboat. A groundbreaking film that tackled the racism of the day full on but by todays standards, it is full of racist stereotypes and dialect.You can only understand todays society by seeing how that society came into existence. Otherwise you open yet another window to extremism against the values of an open society. It's a slippery slope and a lot of people with the best of motives just don't get it. Fred

You make a very good point and one it is hard to disagree with until you again look at the history, the mentality and political situation of Germany after the Second World War. It was the national will and the will of her conquerors. A statement of intent from people destroyed at all levels. As for this country are you saying just pull everything down that offends and if so will anything commemorating Winston Churchill to Gracie Fields be left at all? That sounds flippant but this country is what it is because of it's past and I agree an awful lot of it is disagreeable but I would not like to live anywhere else, warts and all. Fred

First I think I'm classed by society as an old man and second I am not the problem. I agree and can not argue with most of your premise. Were we fundamentally disagree though is our different views on the respect for history and how fundamental the understanding of that history has on the way we conduct our society today. I did not know of the Colston statue or the man until recent events. I am not aware how the statue was presented to be viewed. Was there a full explanation of the man or would it be viewed as erected? These things are important to understand fully what drove the crowd to do what they did. Was it vandalism, pent up anger or an escape for feelings about an event in another country. Whatever it was, it happened and that is now also part of history. What should happen now? I personally believe it should be exhibited in the way it was recovered, with a full explanation to why it was erected in the first place and why it ended up in the condition it is now. Just the facts, no opinion, that is up to the viewer to decide. Fred

In 1907 the American popular singer Ada Jones made a humorous record describing the effects of the man in the moon being black. Very innocent in it's day but totally unaceptable and rightly so, today but the point is the listener makes that judgement and by making that judgment is stronger for it. In 1933 the Nazi party throughout Austria and Germany had ceremonious events burning books that did not agree with their philosophy or interpretation of history, by removing the popular culture (or statues) of a period, are we not doing just that? Fred

Because we are not. What is being discussed is the monuments and statues of events and values which today we find abhorrent and if they should be left in place or removed. Has very little to do with racism as we comprehend it in todays society unless those edifices are being used to glorify what most of us find today totally unacceptable. Fred

Agree. It was also put up by the people of Bristol as they thought he should be honoured, are we also going to condemn the then population of Bristol for doing so? A lot more can be learnt by it being on show. Hide it away and we learn nothing and in that ignorance we will understand ourselves less. Fred

Deleted as reported elsewhere.

Beware judging history, it will never match up to the present. Colston made a lot (not all) of his money from the slave trade. Totally abhorrent to us today but he also gave large amounts of money to Bristol charitable causes, so in his time was he a bad man? Colston's infamous statue was not erected until 1895, more than 150 years after his death, so even then he was admired by the people of Bristol. My home city is Liverpool, another city hugely benefiting from the slave trade and a city where you will see numerous references to that trade but they are not hidden but openly discussed, as I believe they should be. You can not wipe out history (or our take on it) and you have to face it and learn from it. Yes the statue should be seen and if it is being moved, scars and all to a more appropriate place, so be it. Fred

Although both Royals and Summercraft versions were presented externally in immaculate condition I always considered their layouts somewhat compromised with for example the microwave being a definite after thought. Compare that to Silverline's Silver Symphony, with it's neat and well thought out fitout of the same class. Fred

Birkenhead Docks? Fred

Happy Wanderer has a nice unusual appearance. It had been rebuilt in 1955 to look like this. Neat layout but must have been a bit cosy when 3 onboard. Bet that Penta was a bit noisy. Liked the Little Ships fleet, always well presented. Fred

I think to be fair by the late 50s they were your bargain basement choice. Note they only had a two ring cooker. Not even a grill. There were other similar small budget boats around like Percival's Peter Pan class and Freeman's Gleetime and all very popular until the 60s. I think we have to judge by the standards of the day. People only had a bath once a week, unless in an industry like mining you had a dedicated bath night. People used safes or evaporator cabinets instead of refrigerators and people put more cloths on when it got chilly rather than light the fire in summer! In saying that you could hire larger craft pre-war with running hot water and baths. Heating was introduced in the early 50s but suddenly stopped, I presume there must have been carbon monoxide issues. It was reintroduced widely by the mid 60s with the introduction of catalytic units and hot air systems. Refrigeration was to some extent solved by Blakes Ice Box scheme which was countered by Hoseasons through B.O.A. bulk buying small gas operated 'fridges. I remember Blakes then banning gas 'fridges as dangerous although the issue seems to have been resolved after just one season. Showers became very popular in the 60s and 70s. In a Broads Diary I kept in 1971 64% of Blakes boats and 56% of Hoseasons boats were so fitted. No idea how the figure was worked out, so not sure of accuracy. The one luxury with doesn't seem to have taken off is dishwashers which Jack Powles introduced on their Superstar class. Fred

They operated both from Southgates ex Norfolk Holiday Boats yard before it was sold for housing and then the Lower Street yard (ex Percival) that out lived Southgates main yard and still exists today. In 1970 only Roach and Rudd were still available. Fred

Nowt to do so did a bit of investigating the Roach class. Seems they were rebuilt from the "Bell" class as reproduced here from the 1939 Blakes brochure. Dimensions and plan both the same. Notice in 1939 there were six in the class. Was one lost in the War or did it end up on the River Cam? Comparison with the Roach class from 1965 Blakes brochure. Fred

Hi Glen, Silver Cloud is out and about, being used as a day boat by a local owner. Very different in style from Southern Crusader or Ranworth Breeze so might not be what your after but if interested contact me for details. Fred

They came from the Neatishead Boatyard before passing to Richardsons. Looked a little dated even as new. The Roach class I always presumed was built for the H. C. Banham fleet but can not verify. Blakes always seemed to be much more honest than Hoseasons in their brochure descriptions at this time. The first River class, "Bure" was built for the 1961 season. They ended up at Dawncraft in Wroxham with the sliding roof replaced by a pram type cover. Fred

Oooer mrs!

No idea but the clues are. The area has been mown, so not a wild mooring. She has a spring line so possibly very tidal and the aft lines seem to be attached to rings rather than the wooden posts to the fore. Across the dyke, river or basin, where the Alpha style boat is moored, there is fencing and possibly a vehicle can be made out above the sliding canopy of the Aston. Two electricity posts can be seen. Fred

Swancrafts bit of junk and also that Sanderson motor sailer. Source, 1988 Blakes brochure. Fred

VIP Harvey Easrwood operated a 2/4 berth traditional yacht from the mid 90s until they closed the hire business in about 2001?. The last sizeable fleet based on the Southern side was that of The Traditional Broads Yacht Co based at St. Olaves in the early 90s before the fleet moved to Horning as the Norfolk Broads Yachting Co. I also seem to remember Sanderson's operating a motor sailer in that era as well. Fred

River Weaver Anderton?

I personally think this was the start of the industries slow but steady decline. Up till then it seemed to be just boom boom boom. As a punter in the know your would avoid Jenners at all costs. One very respected hire boat operator once told me that whilst working for Jenners he was sent to check over the engine of a boat due out that day. Only one problem...........the boat had no engine! Fred