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Willoughby Fabrications


John Brightley

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I thought this would be useful to post here for future reference. From Harbury News Sept 1975, found online.

 

HIDDEN INDUSTRY OF HARBURY
In our midst just along the road from the Gamecock in Chapel Street there used to be a sign saying "Precision Metal Products Ltd" Although the sign was knocked down by the scrap lorry the firm flourishes in the heart of our village. They were joined about 6 months ago by "Willoughby Fabrications" with a welding shop further up the yard. Don Osborne, who runs Precision Metal Products is a Dorset born man now living in Leamington and has been in business in Harbury since 1951. With a friend he started a machine shop in the old Mill in Mill Lane at that time, and moved to the existing premises after 8 months, when he went out his own. He now employs up to 5 people, turning out parts up to 4'6" Diameter for Aircraft, Bombs, Naval use, Boatbuilding and Marine Engineering, supplying firms such as Rolls Royce
and Bowman. Roy Willoughby, the man behind "Willoughby Fabrications" makes longboats for canal use. He lives in Stockton and started making longboats with Don Cole in Ladbroke 5 years ago. Roy moved to Harbury when Don Cole started 'Colecraft' at Southam. He employs 3 people at Harbury at present and constructs the
metal hulls of the boats. They are then taken to his canalside base at Calcutt (between Stockton & Napton) where the boats are finished off. Boats up to 40' can be made in one piece but larger
ones are made in 2 halves and then welded together when they reach Calcutt. The boats are Roy's own design and are made to last a long time. He keeps costs low by fitting reconditioned "marinised" diesel engines and having many of the fittings made by Precision Metal Products. The boats he will make in the future are likely to be smaller as he has a design for a 26ft aluminium hulled boat on the drawing board.

Edited by John Brightley
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34 minutes ago, John Brightley said:

HIDDEN INDUSTRY OF HARBURY...

"Willoughby Fabrications" makes longboats for canal use. He lives in Stockton and started making longboats with Don Cole in Ladbroke 5 years ago. Roy moved to Harbury when Don Cole started 'Colecraft' at Southam. He employs 3 people at Harbury at present and constructs the
metal hulls of the boats. They are then taken to his canalside base at Calcutt (between Stockton & Napton) where the boats are finished off. Boats up to 40' can be made in one piece but larger
ones are made in 2 halves and then welded together when they reach Calcutt. The boats are Roy's own design and are made to last a long time. He keeps costs low by fitting reconditioned "marinised" diesel engines and having many of the fittings made by Precision Metal Products. The boats he will make in the future are likely to be smaller as he has a design for a 26ft aluminium hulled boat on the drawing board.

 

I wonder if he made narrowboats for the Vikings as well... 🤣

Edited by cuthound
To remove a full stop masquerading as a space.
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Which went on to become Warstock - probably best known for their widely copied aluminium, nylon bushed, top bearings amongst many other useful products for boat builders.

 

 I miss Roy - he was a good and very versatile chap. His son is still in the industry.

Edited by Rose Narrowboats
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