Angela Clark

I wish!!

Water Rat was a very pretty boat, lovely lines, and the only 2 berth Dad built, although some of the original 4 berths were no longer, just more cramped! I've attached info from the brochure to bring back a few memories for you. I remember the days when every trip was an adventure as you never knew what problems you would encounter along the way, not to say that it's always plain sailing even now, only last year we were stuck in a lock as there was an obstruction behind the gate, but at least help was on hand from CRT who got there within the hour! As you say, Dad was a lovely man, albeit somewhat eccentric - but then I suppose he had to be to start up what was considered to be a very bizarre enterprise in the very early 50s, brave too! Mum must have had tremendous faith in him as she never doubted that it would work.

Thanks David, lovely to see these photos! Quite a few boaters have told me that their first (or their parents' first) boating experiences were in Dad's boats and inspired a life-long interest in boating. Good to know that he made a difference! Angela

Very interesting to hear this, I had no record of what happened to Wyevale (1st) when she left the fleet. Glad to hear she was enjoyed! There was also a 2nd Wyevale in the fleet 1974 - 78 which was later purchased by Ian Mackersey who I think was once an editor of Waterways World. She was renamed "Tanui" by him. I know what you mean about the speed, we try very hard to keep within the 4 mph, but most of the time we are actually out of gear when passing moored boats (with the resulting lack of steering) in order to try to slow down enough not to be shouted at. We actually had to have Jemima's prop re-pitched when we bought her to slow her down a bit, as she had been on the broads where the limit is a bit higher!

I've had a look and I'm afraid I don't have much info on Myiscus. There were 2 boats of that name built. Both for the same client. The first in 1953 which was taken to Yorkshire, then returned to Stourport to join the fleet when the owner had a 2nd larger version built in 1957, which also eventually returned to the hire fleet. I would think it was the 2nd one your family hired. I have no info about where either of them ended up. They would probably have been sold when they became too old to continue in the hire fleet. They certainly weren't still there when Dad retired in 1978

Indeed, lovely chutneys & jams!!

I know she's no longer around, I'll have a look through my records to see if I can find any info about her. Sorry I didn't reply to your previous post, I'm afraid I must have missed it!

Was a time when a lot of them did, Especially around West Midlands area! Only 3 Holt Abbott boats left now, Jemima, Silver Heron and Tavy Cleave 2nd, which is based on the Lancaster Canal. Picture of Tavy Cleave herewith

I remember Water Rat very well, she was a sweet little 2 berth, as you say, very curvaceous. the second one of that name, the first being only the 3rd boat built I think. I hope I've managed to attach a photo of Jemima, not sure how well it will come out as I have had to reduce the number of pixels to stay within the allowed 3mb size! She has Leaky windows, hence the plastic covers over them. I'll try to find one without as she looks much better that way! Another couple of photos, the first one including Silver Heron, one of the very early boats, which was built in 1954 and is miraculously still afloat, due largly to the valiant efforts of David Brown, whose family owned her from 1969.

Thanks very much for these photos, it's always lovely to see the boats as they were. I well remember the "foam bergs" coming out of locks! The boats were always rather easily damaged, we've been guilty of it with Jemima. We've had some very hefty knocks when the bywash catches her coming out of locks which is why she's in Worcester now, as we took her to the dry dock there to have a leak repaired and got trapped by the river and problems on the canal! Hopefully we'll get her back to her mooring on the Staffs & Worcs canal in the spring! I'll have another try at posting a photo later on today.

Lovely to read this post and to see the picture of Bredon Hill from way back when! My father was Holt Abbott, builder of Bredon Hill amongst about 25 others. I believe the half narrowboat "Angela" was named after Angela Rolt (as I was also). Dave and I have another of Dad's boats "Jemima" which was built over the winter of 1964/5 for a private client. Currently stuck in Diglis Basin, Worcester as the River Severn has been pretty much constantly in flood since November, and at least 3 locks on the Worcester & Birmingham canal are closed for maintenance until early March! Tried to add a photo of Jemima, but apparently the file is too big. Will have another go tomorrow!