Derek Quilliam

I had the brief pleasure of interviewing and photographing Charlie on the T&M near Preston Brook tunnel in the 1970's. Mendip was not painted in any colours at this point, I don't think he could find much carrying work. A couple of my monochrome photos of him can be seen on advertising about Mr. Malkin's folk song (incidentally I have never heard it) but I was never asked permission for use of my photos, nor have I been credited as being the photographer. Such is life!

Thanks Bill, that is a very interesting bit of history, not only about Puppis but your own boat Maria, and Sonny. I didn't have the chance to chat to the occupants of Puppis back then as I was photographing from the road bridge at Preston Brook. (and yes Derek R, they are my photos, so carry copyright, but that doesn't seem to make any difference nowadays does it? Several of my old canal shots from that period have been "pinched" off websites and used elsewhere, without so much as even a credit line. That's all I ask, I don't want money! I used to add a text copyright at the bottom of photos, but folk would just crop that out! But that's life nowadays, isn't it? I am just very pleased and content with the fact that others find some of my photos interesting)

Hi. Here are 3 photos of mine. I took these of horsedrawn PUPPIS at Preston Brook on the Bridgewater canal, I think this would have been 1977. On the right of the first photo is Claymore Navigation hire base (still there today) It would be nice to see a photo or two of PUPPIS as she is today. I hope these monochrome photos are of some interest to you (sorry, back in the 70's most of my photos on the canals were in b&w!)