steve chapman

When i was little my grandfather had a Norman cruiser, and then purchased another one . He brought a field near Penkridge and built the first landing stages and a shed. He was a builder by trade, He then went into partnership with my uncle and formed Teddersly Boating Company. This was about 1965/66.He had the fibreglass tops made and opened a factory near Norton Canes to make the hulls. I recall the crane arriving putting the hulls in the water and having to paint them with special paint in the school holidays. I also remember two of the hire fleet sinking !! one near Gailey when the user forgot to replace the weedhatch and one in Penkridge when a fence post jammed against the side in the lock and the water filled to the top !! My granfather died some years ago CTC , Charles Thomas Chapman and my uncle Pete and Barbara moved to Church Stretton to run a hotel. I grew up helping on these boats at weekends and have many fond memories....Steve Chapman.