Commemorations of 1912 Floods at Coltishall

We had arranged to use a friends' motor boat to tow Heather up the Bure to Coltishall, although the plans changed a few days before. Not wanting to withdraw from the event, we considered the use of a hired day launch, however immediately dismissed this when advised day boat providers insurance wouldn't cover towing. We then asked the Bure Navigation Trust organisers if they knew of anyone who was heading to Coltshall who would consider towing us along. Stuart Wilson, Chairman of the BNCT put out an appeal for a tow, including a request on BBC Radio Norfolk, broadcast two days before the event. Thankfully, Faircraft Loynes Boatyard, by Wroxham Bridge offered us the use of their tow boat BUSTER. We set off after the yard closed on Saturday and just managed to squeeze through the old bridge, following some downpours of rain.

We had all the seasons in one day, but mercifully the sun shone most of the afternoon for the centennial celebrations. The day reflected the thoughtful efforts of the Bure Navigation Trust. There were many stalls and cheerful traditional folk music was played. A token cargo of local barley and potatoes were transported by local Sea Scouts on a flotilla of canoes ~ the first delivery of cargo in a hundred years. They embarked from Alysham and paddled some nine miles down to Coltishall to exchange the cargo to ALBION and then ashore.

Heather was popular with visitors; they peered through the window and saw the cabin inside. For some, Heather's basic interior took them back to simpler times. A lady from the Netherlands commented on how cosy the cabin appeared and remarked how there are many similar boats on the Dutch waterways. The overall experience was a joy and the crew had a chance to explore the winding upper navigable reaches of the River Bure in the manner of the original adventurous houseboats of the 19th century ~ which many believe developed into the first motor cabin cruisers.

Jason, Calvin, Chris and Timothy

The crew are sincerely grateful to Paul Greasley and Pat Tubby of Faircraft Loynes, Wroxham.

Fitting Music for Heather

One of the more surreal comments made about the houseboat has been that 'she looks straight out of Miss Marple or Poirot.' Some of the crew are very keen on Dame Agatha Christie's work and indeed the stylish era of the 1920's to 1960's. The 'Queen of Crime' had close links to Norfolk and she often travelled by train via Wroxham to visit friends in North Walsham.

One of the Miss Marple stories, 'The Moving Finger,' was actually filmed on location in Norfolk by the BBC as part of their seminal television series which ran from 1984 to 1992. The series is a particular favourite of ours. With Joan Hickson playing Miss Marple, we believe they are the most faithful portrayal of Christie's unassuming, amateur lady detective. The films capture the canny and moral character of the elderly spinster perfectly. The triumphant production pictured the late nineteen forties and early fifties with seamless period detail, laced together with sumptuous music. We have been most fortunate in being able to procure the original music of the series written by multi-talented composing duo Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley. Ken Howard very kindly wrote the following narrative specifically for us about their collaborative work for the Miss Marple series:

The Miss Marple commission came about through an association with Guy Slater and George Gallaccio, who were producing the series for the BBC. They wanted something quintessentially English and Alan and I first came up with the title melody, which they loved, followed by the St Mary Mead theme.

The talented Andy Findon is featured on oboe in the recordings and John Altman arranged and conducted. 'Consort' is the name we gave to the studio orchestra for the EMI single ('Consort' was also used for By the Sword Divided) and Video Symphonic for the EMI cassette and CD.

The Marple series were tremendous fun to work on, since each film had a different setting and cast, and required specific and very varied 'mood' music from the Rachmaninov-esque 4.50 from Paddington to the steel band of A Caribbean Mystery. Each episode started with a meeting with the Director who would explain how he envisaged the music would be featured - most often to personify a character or enhance emotion, but sometimes to work in contrast to the visual to create a disconcerting mood, which is often an interesting use of the musical soundtrack.

Joan Hickson has always remained for us the supreme embodiment of Agatha Christie's Marple, and indeed the author hoped that she would take on the role. We were delighted when Joan sent us a really appreciative note saying the music would always epitomise the fantastic times she had playing the amateur sleuth. The Miss Marple theme continues to be played by bands and musical groups all over the world, including arrangements for church bells and tuned wine-glasses!

Alan and I went on to write many more TV film scores, including The Flame Trees of Thika, By The Sword Divided, Q.E.D etc. I also scored Shadowlands, Shadow on the Earth, Penny For Your Dreams etc. You can find details about Alan Blaikley and myself on our website: 

www.kenhoward-alanblaikley.com

Pictured above are three record covers of Ken Howard's and Alan Blaikley's music.

With grateful thanks to Ken Howard.

Chris

Trading Places

A quirky snapshot of the houseboat with guests aboard taken around 1955 whilst laying at Turner's Boatyard moorings. This is only the second known personal photograph of Heather, before the boat ceased to be hired out in 1984. The newly enclosed forward, kitchen end is on the right. Courtesy of John Royal Esq.

For the past two years we have been part of the Broads Picnic in the Park event, therefore we had no reason to believe we couldn't be part of this years celebrations, staged at idyllic How Hill, Ludham on 29th July. We had hoped to moor at the ancient Staithe (a Broadland name for a port) and purely exhibit the boat. Here, goods of every description had been exchanged in the age of the wherries, keels and other trading craft. A distant time when nature and commerce worked in relative harmony in Broadland. For special gatherings, the Vintage Wooden Boat Association also used to book official 24 hour free moorings in advance, but can no longer do so. A week before the event, we were informed by the Broads Authority that there wouldn't be space for Heather.

To kick start the celebrations to mark sixty years since the houseboat was first placed for hire, Heather will join Wherry ALBION, along with other boats and stalls on the riverside Common at Coltishall on Sunday 26th August from 12pm to 5pm. This is a special commemoration of the infamous 1912 floods and the subsequent closure of the Bure Navigation, which operated between Coltishall (a short distance above the Common itself) and the town of Alysham. The event has been the culmination of over two years dedicated hard work of the voluntary Bure Navigation Conservation Trust. A classic 1959 Bedford bus will shuttle visitors from Roy's overflow car park, next to Hoveton and Wroxham railway station to Coltishall Common. For further details please see:
aylsham-navigation.norfolkparishes.gov.uk/legacy-charitable-trust

From 6th to the 9th of September, the boat is taking part in the Heritage Open Days scheme, operated in Norfolk by the Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust. Moored at Hoveton during the four day free event, it is the second official on board opening of Heather this year. Visitors can see the on going restoration and experience what a houseboat was like during the fabulous 50's; including the revamped saloon. There is also the foscle galley (the kitchen at forward end of the boat), complete with the period oil stove, food cupboard and utensils. A selection of objects and pictures from the 1950's will be displayed in the saloon.

On Sunday 23rd from 10am to 4pm, we will join a flotilla of hire craft at the stunning location of Salhouse Broad to mark the enormous cultural legacy of hire boats in Broadland. There will be a range of craft and associated stalls participating.

Chriss' grandparents, Eric and Ellen Simpson on board BREYDON LADY 2, a motor cabin cruiser the family hired from Cobholm Boatyard at Great Yarmouth for a holiday in the 1950's.

Andrew, Chris,

John Royal Esq

A Trifle from Lowestoft and the Woodbine Cafe

Towards the end of July in the sweltering sun, some of the crew made an excursion on board Motor Yacht DIPLOCAT, an unusual but shapely catamaran. It was eventful cruise down the River Yare from Thorpe~next~Norwich. The boat glided onto a pontoon at the well appointed Oulton Broad Yacht Station late on the evening of Sunday 22nd July. The pontoon was connected to the delightfully named Boulevard, a promenade that leads into Oulton village. At dusk, the row of neat thatched buildings and cherry trees, illuminated by coloured lights running along the waterfront add to the atmosphere. The cool breath of the North Sea, filtering through nearby Lake Lothing to the Broad, felt tantalisingly close.

The next morning we were met by the jovial and laid back Yacht Station Attendants, renowned for a genuine, thoughtful and friendly service. Dressed in smart white shirts with badges of office, they couldn't do enough for the plentiful visiting boats, which numbered over thirty. The moorings are mostly operated by the Sentinel Leisure Trust who also run Beccles Yacht Station, further up the River Waveney.

 

We noted that stationary houseboats survive here, unlike some quarters of Broadland. Some slightly weathered wooden boarded examples lay to buoys on the south western fringes of the Broad, with swaying green beds of reed serving as a backcloth. A famous past Harbour Master, William B Hoseason, during World War Two found such craft provided perfect holiday accommodation for evacuated families. He began to let the boats, acting as agent for the owners. This small enterprise grew into the large Hoseasons Group which thrives today.

Over the next couple of days, we headed into the old seaside town, birth place of genteel blue and white Lowestoft porcelain and Composer Benjamin Britten. We ventured down an anonymous walkway and along the industrial shoreline of Lake Lothing, treading over the rails of the numerous slipways and taking in the vast range of ships on view. Traditional skills flourish here in the form of the International Boatbuilding Training College and most recently Shipshape. IBTC is also now home to the East Anglian branch of the national Shipshape scheme which joins together skilled craftsmen, historic craft owners, businesses, heritage organisations and training bodies.

A climb up through the dunes brings one to a railway footbridge and then down onto a grassed park on the left and a lake (not broad) on the right. This area is well managed for conservation with wooden boardwalks and wood chip paths running along the edge. The lake is a magnet for birds and sits very well next to the urban make up of the area. The next turn brings us to a business park and it's associated warehouses, then half a mile or so past Victorian terraces where one arrives in Lowestoft.

We made a beeline for the well known pastel coloured frontage of the Woodbine Cafe for replenishment. After the long trek, we found the atmosphere within very pleasant and the staff exceptionally friendly. The establishment was founded in 1895 and the present host, Caroline Garrod, whose family moved from London, has run the cafe for thirty nine years. Caroline said they 'like to carry on tradition.' Once they served crews from the busy armada of fishing trawlers, although today the number of vessels has dropped to single figures. The name of the cafe, 'Woodbine' is a type of honeysuckle plant; the name of a former local steamer and a brand of tobacco. The Woodbine is a proper cafe with wooden bench settles, once used by worshippers in a church. Home made food including roast dinners, delectable cream cakes and pastries are all on offer.

Rose, a stalwart of the Woodbine

Woodbine Cafe, 18 Suffolk Road, Lowestoft NR32 1DZ. Telephone: 01502 566 630

We looked round for provisions, including rubber soled canvas deck shoes to use on board DIPLOCAT and some fixtures and furnishings for the houseboat. The return journey under blazing sunshine rounded off the inaugural cruise of 2012 of MY DIPLOCAT. It is well worth exploring the district around Lowestoft as there is so much to do and see. We look forward to returning later in the season.

A Trifle from Lowestoft: a legend used on some souvenir Lowestoft pottery.

Chris