Weybridge Mariners Club

It was on the 2nd March 2006 that disaster struck. Chris Knight who was Commodore had a call at 4 am at home from Bob Smith one of our members who worked as the local Environment Officer  at the E.A. building next door.  Fire had destroyed the total building and we lost everything including all the Honours Boards and Display Cabinets housing all the silver cups.  Worse still was the discovery that our insurance cover which had been based on updated valuations of the building which had been built by the members in the early seventies; was woefully inadequate to meet the cost for rebuilding to 2006 standards.  Not only did we have a fire but to compound our problems we were in the process of renegotiating our lease with the E.A.

The cause of the fire was unknown.  Forensic investigation would have had to have been paid for and as our cover was already too low, there seemed little point since our insurers paid out irrespective.  

As previously documented in this History account; when the club was initially converted for our use from the Thames Conservancy boathouse back in the 70’s; we had many members with the necessary qualifications and skills.   Post the fire we still had members with considerable skills.  Ray Churchill was an Architect and Charles Worby a Building Surveyor.

Two sub-committees from club members were set up.   The first was the Rebuild Committee headed by Ray Churchill. Serving on this Committee we had Roger Francis who had considerable building experience.  He was to undertake the position as Clerk of Works.  The other prime members were Vic Lundberg, Charles Worby, Frank Miller, Jim Kelly and Gary Musgrove.  The second sub-committee was the Fund Raising Committee headed by the Vice Commodore Frank Gaylard.  Ex Officio members comprising the Commodore, the Secretary Chrissie Drummie and the Treasurer Angie Jenkins sat in on the Committees when appropriate.

The Rebuild Committee decided that the initial work would be carried out by Gerry Harris who was a self employed building contractor. He and Keith Davies undertook the work that was considered unsafe for the rest of the members.  Once it was safe, other members joined in.  Bob Smith was able to help us with disposal of waste materials by river. Almost 10% of the insurance cover was spent clearing the site.

Ray Churchill drew up plans under the umbrella of Axiom Architects where he worked as a director.  He submitted all the plans to the E.A. who had no objection.  The fact that Bob Smith was virtually on the doorstep no doubt ensured that things went faster than might have happened without his co-operation.  Also, we had huge support from Steve Newman our resident Lock Keeper not for getting Sandra his wife who supplied teas on many occasions Following on, Ray liaised with the Local Council and put the rebuild plans out to tender.  This resulted in the work being placed with Ian Parkinson Bryant Construction Ltd. who had built the new Gibbs' boatyard premises just down river from our clubhouse.  Ian was exceptionally co-operative knowing of the club’s predicament with limited finances.  He agreed to do as much as possible within our budget.  This meant that our initial requirements were dramatically cut back. Parkinson Bryant would take on the main structure including new steelwork and that once the outer walls, floors and roof had been completed members would work on building all the internal stud walling, undertake all plumbing, electrical and internal decorative work.

Charles Worby liaised liaised with Gerry Harris on trial inspection holes to establish the stability of the existing foundations for supporting the rebuild including the additional steel work for the re-designed roof.  A structural engineer was called in to determine whether the original steelwork could be retained.  Fortunately it had survived with little damage. 

In order to keep the club membership together the club was able to negotiate a favourable rate for the use of JGF Passenger Boats ‘Walton Lady’ from John French which moored just upstream of the clubhouse site every Friday evening.  Members continued to meet and Committee Meetings were held on the top deck when required.  One of our concerns with having no clubhouse related to our commitment to host the Dunkirk Veterans on their annual visit aboard the Little Ships.   John French again came to the rescue and provided 2 of his vessels from JGF Passenger Boats for the visit on the 10^th September 2006 free of charge.

The shortfall on our insurance cover was the reason we set up the Fund Raising Committee under Frank Gaylard our Vice Commodore. We desperately needed funding for the internal work.   Plans were made  to hold a Mariners’ River Festival at Shepperton Lock on the 16^th September 2006.   This event was backed by the Environment Agency who were keen to promote interest in the river.  Invitations to boating clubs and other organizations were sent out.

It was a great success thanks to the involvement of all our members who were able to participate. Angie Jenkins organised the supply of marquees which were collected by Peter Adams in his truck with help from many of the members. Everyone turned to erect them by the lock and in Steve Newman’s garden.  Stalls were set up with for club members Sally Holdaway, Margaret Bond, Joyce Lundberg, Sian McCoy, Jean Francis, Pat Borsboom, Glen Lavier, Heather Gaylard, Annette Harris, Wendy Hurrell, Maureen Lawrence, Su Knight and Ann Fowler among others providing cakes, jams, marmalade pies and chutney.  Other stalls were taken by the  RNLI and others selling jewellery, craft items, perfume, books etc. River trips; courtesy of Bev Shields at Chertsey  Meads Marine; were set up with donations going to the Mariners. JGF moored the Walton Lady alongside with a Pimms Bar with smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches on the upper deck run by Bill and Angie Jenkins. Bill McCoy ran a hot dog and burgher stall,   Past Commodore Mike Higgins donated a weekend in Paris for 2 as the major prize in the River Festival raffle draw.  Our Master of Ceremonies for this event was Arthur Bond who gave all the announcements and told everyone what was on and where. The Festival  was deemed a great success boosting our minimal funds.        

This success led to follow up annual festivals which further strengthened our rebuild kitty. Tony Riley from Bray Cruising Club and of Legacy fame came and played the organ and sang at the River Festivals.  Marquees and stalls were again set up and we continued to add to our funds.

Main functions during the rebuild were held at the Black Swan Penny Lane and the Village Hall in Shepperton where Bill and Sian McCoy covered catering on several occasions. The AGM was held at the Black Swan in 2006.  Donations from other clubs and individuals were received.  Mike Fowler followed Angie Jenkins as Treasurer and continued throughout most of the re-build watching the pennies all the way along. Frank Gaylard took over as Commodore followed by Vic Lundberg, Wendy Hurrell,Danny Rogers and  Bob Boreham.  They all contributed much to keep the club membership rallied.

Work on the clubhouse by members really started when the builders had completed the main structure.   Our main stay was Roger Francis who not only was actively involved with everything but also ensured that it all moved along at the correct speed and order.  Further clearance and collection of building materials began.  Peter Adams provided transportation both to and from the site.  Everything had to be carried over the lock gates and members all turned to help.  Much of the internal stud walling was built by Billy Barton who provided power tools in conjunction with Roger Francis.  Helping with this work were Peter Budd, John McPhee, Frank Miller, Jim Hillier. Kenny Beard, Danny Rogers, Russell Doig, Jim Pothecary, Mike Fowler,and others.  Vic Lundberg set about marking the floors as drawn out on the plans by Ray Churchill. Once the stud walling framework was up; plasterboard was fitted’. External walls were double skinned to meet fire regulations.  Plasterboard also had to be fitted to the undercroft.  A night shift with Frank Gaylard, John McPhee, Bob Boreham and others undertook this work.  

Gary Musgrove ordered all the electrical wiring and parts and almost single handed set about the installation.  Although not a qualified electrician his computer background enabled him to undertake work that was new to him although it necessitated him studying the regulations to ensure that there would be no problem when the system was commissioned by a qualified electrician. 

Jim Kelly ordered all the plumbing parts including the boiler, radiators and piping.  Jim previously had a plumbing business and although retired did most of the work himself assisted by Jim Hillier.  

In addition to Billy Barton who did much of the carpentry including making temporary staircases we also had the skills of Frank Miller who before retiring had a Carpentry and Joinery business.  Frank undertook joinery work fitting out the galley and elsewhere as needed including banisters for the final outside staircases.

Once all the internal walls were up; everyone turned to with help.  Everyone included many of the ladies who not only provided food and drink on working weekends but also did much of the cleaning and painting.

Outside all steelwork had to be rubbed down and painted.  Trenches had to be dug steps erected and paths laid down.  Roger Francis, Peter Budd, Bob Boreham, Kenny Beard , John McPhee and others were involved.   The initial stairs on the riverside were made by Billy Barton to meet safety regulations for fire escape access whilst work was going on.  The original wrought iron staircases were re-erected in conjunction with the new balcony.

The galley stove was funded by another generous donation made by Eileen Rogers.  This was a commercial item and weighed a ton.  Martin Small arranged transport for collection with the help of several members for man handling.  Fitting was carried out by Jim Kelly.  Specialized flooring in the galley was laid by a contractor

The balcony was another major task undertaken by members.  Foundations were dug for additionally supporting steelwork.  Steel sheets were delivered by river with the help of Keith Edwards from Middle Thames Yacht Club.  Peter Towerzey erected a temporary boom at an angle on what remained of the original balcony.  A block and tackle was attached to form a crane to lift the last sheets. Each one was drilled and an eyebolt fitted to connect to the chain lift. These sheets weighed in the order of a quarter of a ton each and were rolled into position using scaffold poles.  Peter brought welding equipment and completed the balcony flooring.  With help from Bob Boreham railings were sourced and welded into position with an additional scaffold pole railing modification along the top to meet current safety requirements. 

One of the later additions was the construction of a bar.  Weybridge Mariners’ Club have not had the benefit of an income from mooring rentals and rely heavily on profits from bar sales.  Frank Gaylard initially set up a system of trestles and boards   When our funds had increased sufficiently with the income from the River Festivals and other organized events we were able to fund the  current bar which was built by Billy Barton.

As we progressed with the fitting out of the new build other measures were taken.  Bill McCoy acquired flooring tiles which were laid.  The dance floor which we had all enjoyed in the old club house was sorely missed.  It was the generosity of Michael Phillips to whom we have to thank for our current beautiful dance floor.  Barbara, his late wife used to love to dance and this new floor was laid in dedication to her memory.

Even after the building was deemed useable for the members we had little.  Derek Dale took over as Fundraiser.  His reputation as a lodge Charity Steward ensured that every function he and Barbara organized gave a good profit. We obtained chairs and tables via Maureen McLaughlin and cleared out the British Motor Yacht Club courtesy of John Tough.  The original floor tiles in the main hall were replaced thanks to Bob Boreham who acquired replacements.  Ann Fowler made curtains

An awful lot of work was carried out by the members to get to where we are now.    The new club house was officially opened by Chris Turner Chairman of the ATYC.  This was thought to be a fitting follow up from Nobby Pearce his predecessor who opened  it in 1972. Sadly, our President the late Len Outtrim was unable to be present but his grand-daughter read out a message from him.

It has been a long hard struggle but the new clubhouse must be one of the best on the river. Of course there is still work going on. Outside, Bob Boreham has laid new paving, Les Holdaway has undertaken our gardening.  Peter Budd designed and fitted the Weybridge Mariner's sign on the clubhouse frontage above the balcony overlooking the river.  Jim (Jim 'll Fix It) Hamments now seems to be the member to sort out all the remaining niggles as he sees or via request from Andrew Cotter.

We owe a lot to Ray Churchill, Roger Francis, Ian Parkinson and all those who have helped rebuilding the clubhouse.

Since then the major change at Weybridge Mariners has been the establishment  of moorings.  This took a long period as agreements from the Environment Agency and the local council were required.   Initial consent from the E.A. was obtained in 2010 but it was not until 2012 that Pat Walsh (Barge and Boat Builder and Civil Engineering Contractor) started work.   Roger Francis was the WMC mainstay who drew up the plans and handled all the negotiations and reported back to the WMC committees.  The work covered breakout concrete to the end of the slipway, the insertion of 4 piles with 2 walk on pontoons with cleats linked with 2  gangways on Youngman's Board.  This provided accommodation for 4 berths.

Later modifications to the gangways were undertaken by Jim Hamments.

Any errors or omisions in the above - please contact the webmaster 

The following has been received via Bev Shields from probably one of the earliest members of the WMC still around.  The writer is Jonathan Cooke who now lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Reading the 1969 Newsletter on our website from June Griffiths triggered many memories from the past.

Back in the Fifties and Sixties I lived with my parent(s) Julie and 'Cookie' on a boat called MY 'Pisces' at Weybridge Marine when Bob (Skip) Tappin, his wife and his son Terry where alive. I know that Bob died a long time ago, survived by Norah, his widow and by now probably Terry Tappin has also passed on . His ex wife Pauline Lucas passed away years ago. (Her parents, the Lucas's, were part of WMC. They were old show biz music hall veterans.)

I couldn't believe the old W.M.C. newsletter from the 1970's by June Griffiths, I had dated two of her daughters, both spent more time in the bar, being loyal W.M.C. Members, than in their home in West Molesley, or on their boat -

My name is Jonathan David Cook, I was born in a V2 air-raid on London in November 1944. My mother was Julie and my father was known as 'Cookie' and when he (Stanley Lawrence) left my mother, Terry insisted on calling me 'Young Cookie'. I did not like that too much and strove to be known by my name, Jonathan.
My father was a Rear Commodore for a while under Len and Maggie Outtrim, who were succeeded by Paul and Barbara Wingate.

Terry Tappin was probably Vice Commodore at that time. I think 'Skip' Tappin was the Commodore at one time or made Honorary/Emeritus Commodore. Perhaps he never wanted to hold an office; it was long time ago and discovering the W.M.C. Website while looking for Kevin and Patti O'Bryan, has brought back some memories, including the names of people and boats)

I was also the Bar person, or some title, for Weybridge Mariners Club, for a few years in the 1960's, from 1962, or '63, to 1967 or '68. I celebrated my 21st birthday party (1965) there and Pauline Lucas [Tappin] presented me with some award or gift at the time. - I think she and Terry had a daughter when they were married. Her former boyfriend was a Detective called Ron Smith, who was on the Great Train Robbery investigation. He and Terry were also friends. - There was also another local Weybridge CID man, Bert Futter. His fiberglass boat was one of the first 'plastic' cruisers; I think it was a 'Seamaster'. There were also a few 'Freeman' cruisers that looked as though they had come from a caravan factory at first.
I think Commodore Paul Wingate had one of the more elegant models when the Freeman's LOA increased.

I remember John Powell and his wife Margaret had a beautiful Andrews rear cockpit cruiser, but it had the usual mahogany problems - too much rotten wood. They lived aboard all year round and they got their new home in the summer. We turned around in the winter to lay alongside the concrete dockside. To solve their wooden boat problems the Powells sold the Andrews and bought a small G.R.P. Seamaster, but they were plagued with condensation and could not get warm in the cold winter months. That is when we learned that a 'good old wooden boat' had much greater insulating properties. (They would spend time with my parents, on-board our boat, just trying to get warm.)

When Paul Wingate (related to Major Orde Wingate) became Commodore and his sweet wife Barbara was elected  as Treasurer, (my mother was Secretary, and my father had been Rear Commodore). I undertook the  Rear Commodore role in the absence of my father and then became the paid bar steward. I received the princely sum of 12 shillings and sixpence per session for Friday evening, Saturday evening and twice on Sundays It was considered to be a conflict of interests for me to be on the Committee as acting Rear Commodore. (I used to make more in tips, from the Griffiths, the Shiners, the Dillons, the Tappins and the Wingates, etc, etc, than my 50 shillings.) I was considered too young to be the Acting Rear Commodore as I was still under 21 years old. However, I did go to a couple of events as R.C.

At the risk of being evicted, I would take stands against the Tappin nepotistic dynasty. Although to be fair it never happened; in fact, I went on many of Terry's cruises, especially ATYC Rallies like ones at Tilbury Gravesend, or Sheerness. Terry did have the most prestigious yacht, while Len or Paul didn't. Our motor yacht, 'Pisces' being so elegant, could probably have held up, at least as number three after 'Mis'behavin' and David Prior's famous conversion of a GM powered fire boat into an express luxury motor yacht.

My mother and I were Weybridge Marine tenants, we lived aboard all year round. I constantly petitioned the Wingates to make some radical moves. - I think I once suggested moving over to Shepperton Lock Island where the lone Collin Suddards had his sleek yacht moored. Originally, in the early 50's my parents had brought a 25' 6" Devonshire fishing wherry to Weybridge. We were there when Anthony Hancock's yacht, on a converted swim end pontoon broke away in a winter flood. It went round in circles on a swollen weir stream for days and then it sank of course. I remember when Vic Dillon, (George Shiner's partner in Porcelet a.k.a. 'Piglet'), rescued the actress Janet Munro who was married to Ian Hendry (The original 'Avenger'), when she was swept towards the weir above Shepperton Lock. 'George' Shiner and his brother the actor Ronald Shiner lived on Hamm Haugh Island.  Their next door neighbours were Drew Henley and Felicity Kendall (The Good Life) on one side and Alex and Sue Kitto on the other side.

When I finally left Weybridge Marine and WMC, I moored Pisces at the bottom of the Kitto's garden. By now  the 'Bear', Hilda Shiner and I were good friends. I was appointed by her to keep an eye on 'George.' His real name was Lawrence. He was the Chief Architect for Kensington and Chelsea and was employed by the old G.L.C. (Greater London Council.)  'George' Shiner, Steve Drake (Charlie Drake's middle son) and I went to Sheerness one time after I had taken Pisces there for a another rally. (We had watched Sir Francis, on Gypsy Moth IV, get knighted at Greenwich by the Queen after that Rally.)

On another occasion Shiner, Drake, Cook (no Dillon) and I went up the River Snape at Aldeburgh to the Maltings on a high tide. On the way back downstream we ran into bad weather, it was November. It turned into full gale force storm and we put out to sea, at one point passing some top secret installation on the Suffolk coast. The North Sea was very unforgiving and Piglet/Porcelet was tossed around for what seemed like hours. I didn't think we would make it back alive.

My mother and I also attended the Lord Mayor of London's Special Boat Parade. -  We had dinner at the Guildhall in the City and for the actual parade we were equipped with a special transitor record player with Tannoy speakers. We were instructed to play Eleanor Rigby all the way through the Pool of London, but I discovered the other side of the record was Yellow Submarine, so we played that to a rapturous reception every time we went under one of the bridges.

My mother purchased a nearly finished motor yacht conversion from Charlie Hunt, who was Terry's best buddy/worker/friend. They would work on 'Mis'Behavin' all year round. They fell out eventually, probably over Pauline Lucas, although Charlie was a perpetual bachelor, or a man of mystery. His boat had actually been sold to the older brother of an actor from 'Emmerdale Farm', Frazier Hines. - The two brothers and their bookmaker father ploughed, or is that sank, a lot of money into 'Glencoe'. - My mother and her new boy friend got this conversion from Charlie for a reasonable price. This boat was famous for going in circles because it had twin engines, except one was on the centre line and the other was a wing engine. It never did steer straight!  He now had a small launch and did not deal much with Terry Tappin anymore and come to think of it he hardly ever came on the Barge, the W.M.C. HQ, but then neither did Bob Tappin when he was alive. - (Charlie was either at the Lincoln Arms, or up the road at the Old Crown). Terry and his other friends, including some more show biz acquaintances of Pauline, were always down at the Bar on the barge, or across the street at the Lincoln Arms We also had memorable parties at Pauline's town house in Hurst Park at Christmas time or New Year's Eve and after some of the annual dinner dances. One time we all went to Staines for the Annual Dinner and partied afterwards on Mis'Behavin. On that occasion we had quite reasonable number of boats like Sea Ray (Charles and Viv), Porcelet ('George' and 'The Bear') and others like Don Kahn and Vic Dillon and his wife and family etc.

There is one memory that really stands out. - Way back, in the late 50's, Terry and Charlie had an old Thames police launch called 'Fluke', with a Perkins P6 diesel. They would circle round the weir stream by Weybridge Marine in the late summer, with a 4' x 8' sheet of marine plywood as a large 'surf board', while someone would become the water skier. - What a difference a few months later, when 'The Lad from Cheam' would loose his 'yacht' in the same weir stream, now swollen from winter floods. (Which reminds of the time the Thames was totally level with Thames Street. and we all got to help each other)

But that's another story and before I remember any more names, with all this show biz name dropping and stories from the A.T.Y.C. Rallies, Annual Dinner Dances and other special events, I will sign off. - (We did have some good times with the 'rich and famous' and some of them were very down to earth) - I do hope I haven't shocked you with too much nostalgia but, "those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end."

The rest is history. Later, I lived in a house at Hamm Court for a while. The boat was gone. Then I lived in Chertsey at Bridge House for a few years until I flew to the US.

I never lived on a boat again. - After a few years I left for the States with a girlfriend that I had met on the return trip from NY on the QE2, (I worked for Cunard in London, chauffeur to the Chairman). I left England on Friday the 15th of September 1978 and never returned. We came to Miami, Florida and after a while she took off when my Visa expired. - I married a woman from New York and we were married for thirteen years until she died in Upstate New York. We travelled in a Blue Bird Motorhome and when I became widowed, I returned to Florida, (Fort Lauderdale). How ironic that living near Coconut Grove, Miami, where there used to be many residential boat owners, that we never got a boat, just the RV. We did once look at a vintage Chris Craft, American-style houseboat in Miami, when we had money we bought the Blue Bird Motor home.

I still live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in an H.O.A. (Condo). I am retired and do a lot of writing on some subjects of an entirely different nature from reminiscing on boozin', cruisin' and schmoozing. However, you might want to fill me in on a few names of the people and boats from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. I used to Google Earth the old W.M.C. H.Q. barge and see the former Dickens Class M.F.V. 'Martin Chuzzlewit', aka 'Mis'Behavin, scene of many parties and rallies. It was there until recently, along with what looked like the Barge a few years ago.

ADDENDUM
I am listening to BBC Radio Four Extra and/or L.B.C. while working on alternately, my book and/or emails including this one. - It has brought back many 'fond' memories of "Mrs. Duck"; "The Bear", Hilda Shiner; Vic Dillon and 'George' Shiner; The Griffiths, (still cannot remember Dad's name); Paul and Barbara Wingate; David and Veronica Prior; The Keaches; John Roberts; Alex and Sue Kitto; Patti and Kevin O'Bryan; Stuart at the Olde Crown; Charles and Viv Hill; Len and Maggie (by gumm) Outtrim. Does anyone at all remember 'Wee Georgie' the hermit, who used to live on the old WMC barge island, in old WW2 L.C.E. Landing Craft Escort. Also Frank Poole who lived on a metal lifeboat conversion and kept winning at the Desborough Yacht Club, with yours truly in a 12' National sailing dinghy. (Our combined weight was around 130 - 140 lbs, or about 10 stone - remember ounces, pounds and stones?)

Does any one remember Amy Gentry (30/40's? Olympic rowing champion) and the W.L.A.R.C. (Weybridge Ladies Amateur Rowing Club). Or the kayak slaloms on BBC Sports TV over at the Shepperton lower weir?
My parents were asked to move to D'oyly Carte Island before the bridge was built, as the owner wanted some decent looking residential boats around the island. I cannot quite remember his name, but Patti O'Bryan's brother Frank, married the island owner's very aristocratic-like daughter, Anne. They lived on a long Dutch barge yacht, Rios and it had a large single cylinder diesel.
 
We used to frequent the corner Saloon bar at the Lincoln Arms while Tennis Club crowd went into the Lounge bar. The 'working class' were in the other bar (Public Bar complete with the dartboard in a rubber tire and sawdust on the floor), or was that the Olde Crown, up the road? (W.M.C. often pulled a bigger crowd on a Friday night than the Lincoln Arms and sometimes beat them on a Saturday night too.)
Can't imagine now having to maintain litres of draught Guinness at around 0 Centigrade!!

I guess a lot of people have passed on like T.C. Pete (Collin Suddards) who was the sole resident at the old boathouse that burned down. Most of my friends were older, (like my 'famous' girlfriend) - and so I was usually the youngest person at the old Bar on the barge, or at the Mis'behavin parties. Terence would use my eyes to navigate the lower reaches between Richmond half lock and Chelsea Reach. When my mother and I went to Tilbury or Sheerness, we used an Esso/Exxon road map. I think we got a 2nd or a 3rd Prize at an ATYC Rally, or perhaps that was more likely when I crewed for Terry on Mis'Behavin! - Is there anyone who can remember the original Swallow Cruisers that were a part of the T.H.C.A. - (Thames Hire Cruisers Association). Bob Tappin had purchased the fleet and or converted them from various ex-Admiralty L.C.'s They were all named after the bird - a swallow, except that the names were in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Afrikaans, Chinese, etc. [Hirondelle; Golondrina; Zwaluu; etc. - I don't think they were all 'birds' because there was one called Yen. They had Chrysler Crowns, Scripps V8's? and Morris Navigators?'s]

Then Terry, Fred, (the sole Weybridge Marine employee) and Charlie Hunt, built the famously named Mis' Nomer, the first of the Mis(s) hire cruiser fleet, except for the original Mis' Behavin, and that was probably Charlie's original cruiser, before his Glencoe conversion.  As I have said  my mother eventually bought that from him. Charlie really spent much more time on his friend Terry's yacht.  I think Terry and Charlie owned Fluke together. Charlie drove a Morris Minor convertible, lived in Shepperton, (with his mother?) and worked for a garage as a mechanic.

Vic Dillon's boss, Don Kahn, kind of took over Charlie's role as the chief mechanic on call for Terry Tappin, Then there was Doug Painter who owned a laundry somewhere in Byfleet, New Haw or Woking and his younger girlfriend Sue, who mostly drank in the Lincoln, but frequented the W.M.C. Bar and clubhouse.

Mis'Behavin, Terry's motor yacht was one of five Dickens class M.F.V. style motor yachts, built for the Coastguard, or Fleet Air Arm in WWII. Mis'Behavin was Martin Chuzzlewit and the other three or four left after the war kept their original names. The owners of M.Y. Micawber were friends of my parents. There was one called Edwin Drood and one named David Copperfield and also another, maybe called Pip or Magwich from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Perhaps this one had been lost in wartime service. There was no doubt that Mis'Behavin was the most elegant one of the Dickens class in existence.

Jonathan David Cook

The Amy Jane 

The following information from Vic Lundberg was passed to me last year (2012) by Bev Shields which may be of interest.  It relates to the WMC ferry that we had prior to the 'Len Outtrim'.

This boat was fitted out by her first owner in Uxbridge and was called Maria Catalina

She was purchased from him by Don Creese, Past Commodore of WMC and his wife Joan, Past Secretary of WMC in 1966.

For 21 years they travelled extensively in her under her new name "Amy Jane". She was moored on and travelled the Wey Navigation. Their travels included the greater part of the Grand Union Canal, The River Trent the North Oxford, the South Oxford. the Severn and Avon, the North Shatford the Kennet and Avon and the Coventry Canals. She also led a number of Weybridge Mariners boats around the London Levels.

In 1987 she was purchased by Arthur Brooks, Past Commodore, for his daughter and then sold to Ian Bond in Chertsey.

In February 1990 Ian's property in Laleham Reach was destroyed in a flash flood and Amy Jane sank at her moorings. On the 26^th March.

Don Khaan and Arthur Bond salvaged the boat for Ian. Ian intimated that he would be prepared to sell her for a nominal sum and Don suggested to the Committee that the Club purchase Amy Jane and use her as a dory.

On the 3rd April Arthur Bond offered to pay for her and the Committee agreed to her conversion into a dory

Roy Vincent brought her down from Chertsey at the beginning of June and by the 19th June Michael Walker had dug out all the silt from the innards , Don Khaan had got the engine running and Maurice Coster had removed the interior woodwork.

In July Don and Joan Creese sent a message wishing her safe journeys in her new capacity as Club Dory.

By the 20th August Maurice Coster had fitted new decking.

Don Khaan and Terry Tappin pulled her up on Terry's slipway in Weybridge Marine for refurbishment in September. Roy and Frank Vincent covered the cabin and deck with fibre glass, Bill Tandy painted the hull and Terry Francis anti—fouled the bottom. Terry Tappin and Don Khaan fitted a rubber rubbing strip, Maurice Coster made and fitted the engine casing and steps. The name W.M.C. FERRY was applied.

She was launched in October 1990 and her first work as W.M.C.Ferry was for the Laying Up Supper on the 27th October 1990, 4 ½ months from commencement of work- A great effort!.

In January 1995 during flood waters Amy Jane holed herself on the new bollards outside the Clubhouse Don Khann and Paul Killick happened to spot this and with aid of the Thames Police from next door managed to pull her up the Club slipway where she was eventually patched and returned to service.

For the record - the following Members gave their services

LABOUR                                            PARTS

Maurice Coster                                    Terry Tappin

Bill Tandy                                           Denis Rutland

Don Khaan                                          Paul Killick

Terry Tappin                                        Maurice Coster

Michael Walker                                    Bill Tandy

Roy Vincent                                         Vic Lundberg

Terry Francis                                        Roy Vincent

Frank Vincent                                       William Tandy

Vic Lundberg                                       Bruce Caunter

Danny Rogers                                      Arthur Brooks

Len Outtrim

Tea ad infinitum — Grace Coster.