Category: Uncategorized

Can anyone help?

Very sorry to trouble you, but grateful for help, please?

I write for the magazine Bygone Kent and I am researching Charles Cooper who used to own Cooper’s Boat Yard, Mercer Wharf and worked at Richardson’s Wharf. Described by many as a veteran boat builder, among other things he converted ( in 1930 )  at an ex Royal Naval vessel for Commander Charles Lightoller a surviving officer of the Titanic. 

I have tried without success to find any surviving family members of Charles Cooper 1881-1966 who may have photographs of Charles.  Pre war Charles also converted a boat for William Joyce ( Lord Haw Haw ) at Conyer. It was seized at Dover after transmitting equipment had been installed after leaving Conyer.

Grateful for any help please? I wondered if you or some of your members/workers may have known Charles Cooper.

Thank you and sorry again for troubling you.

Mike

www.bygonekent.org.uk

Mike Gunnill

www.mikegunnill.co.uk

Around Britain Circumnavigation

Three boats from Lower Halstow Yacht Club (one sailed by the new MSBA webmaster) will be setting off in the next couple of days on a circumnavigation of Great Britain, a voyage of over 2000 miles. Follow our progress here https://lhyc.org.uk/gb24/ It is hoped that the trip will raise some funds to support the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat 200 year appeal. Visit the Just Giving page here to donate.

Jeddo
Foreness & Daydream

Jeddo is sailed by MSBA Webmaster, David Metcalfe.

Bob Telford – RIP

Some very sad news of former MSBA Committee member Bob Telford. Our condolences go out to Bob’s wife Judy and family.

The following was posted on the Faversham Creek Trust Facebook page:

We are very sad to report the death of our friend and ex-Trustee Bob Telford, who died this week. Bob was a descendant of the great Thomas Telford who straightened the course of Faversham Creek in the 1820s, and was himself a production engineer & systems analyst, having worked for Marconi, Lotus and DeLorean, and Contessa Yachts. He kept his boat Idle Duck at Iron Wharf, and was always willing to share his extensive knowledge about the creek, the bridge, the sluices, water quality and matters maritime. He was a generous, kindly and social man, and a great supporter of the boat-building project at the Purifier Building. Five years ago, it was his idea that St Ayles skiffs might be built here, so often to be seen now on Faversham and Oare creeks.
He helped arrange for dredging licences, and as our Chairman Philippa Dickinson says, “He did a good thing late last year in writing to Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester as well as to Helen Whately to encourage them to work together regarding Peel Ports; he also introduced me to Peter Norris, now Chair of the Medway and Swale Boating Association, so that the Trust could continue the relationship with the MSBA that Bob had held for so many years. The MSBA keep a close eye on Peel’s activities at Chatham and on the Medway and involve Kelly Tolhurst who is the MSBA’s president“.
We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Judy.