Philip had many jobs through his life. His passion has been restoring a 1897 wooden steamboat, Banjo, which he runs on the Broads. Banjo has connections with the Colman family. I was born in Norwich in 1939. Shortly afterwards we moved from Poringland to Ruskington in Lincolnshire as my father was at RAF Cranwell; strangely […]
Water, Mills & Marshes
A better future for people and wildlife (1960s-2019)
David has been passionate about wildlife since he was a boy. His role as head of people and wildlife at Norfolk Wildlife Trust combined managing the Trust’s education and engagement, and conservation teams. The main factors that wildlife is in trouble are habitat loss, climate change, pollution, non-native invasive species and over exploitation of nature. […]
A boatbuilding family. Growing up on the Broads (1900s-1980s)
Rex is a member of a Norfolk Broads boatbuilding family and he spent his working life in the boatbuilding industry on the Broads. My grandfather was Ernest Woods, who originated in Yarmouth, but then he went to Cantley where he had a small boatyard. In 1908 he designed and built the Yare and Bure One […]
A family in thatching. A hard but enjoyable life. (1970s-2019)
Stephen has worked as a thatcher since the 1970s. He talks about his working life and the work he did, along with his brother, on cottages, churches, boat sheds, bus stops and even a village sign. I was born in 1954 at my grandparents’ house, Crome’s Farm, How Hill. In those days young mothers would […]
A life in sugar beet – from Scotland to Norfolk (1960s-2017)
Alex spent his whole working life in the sugar beet industry, starting in Scotland and finishing in Cantley in Norfolk. He was employed in many factories from Shropshire to Iran and has seen a big change in working conditions and practices. I grew up on a farm in Fife, in Scotland and we were […]
A life on the Broads with boats and mills (1953-2017)
Paul has spent most of his working life working on the Broads, building and fitting out boats, including working on world speed record holding boats. He has also had a long interest in the restoration of the mills of the Broads, which led to him owning a local mill and helping restore and repair several […]
A life on the waves: barges and coasters (1960-2019)
Robin worked on cargo-carrying coastal barges in the 1960s and 70s. Later he became a River Inspector for the Broads Authority. Early life I was born in Chingford but grew up in Walthamstow. Every summer my two aunts took me on holiday to Gorleston, for two weeks. That’s when I first got interested in the […]
A life with introduced animals: coypu, mink and mythical big cats (1974-2018)
Simon talks about his career with coypu, mink and other animals. I was born in Northamptonshire and, I suppose like most boys, I liked being outdoors. We had a family farm around where I lived, knew most of the people in the village, and I did things that you probably wouldn’t do now, like egg-collecting, […]
A life’s trickle with the water (1953-2019)
Kim was born in Potter Heigham and has grown up on the Broads. Many generations of his family going back to the 1700s have lived and worked on the Broads. He has worked on wherries with his father, picked fruit with his grandmother and transported the Caen stone on the wherry Albion into Norwich during […]
A long career in boatbuilding (1960s-2019)
Peter has had an interest in boats from a young age. He has worked in the boat building and restoration business for many years working on many different types of boats. Early days in Norwich and two weeks holiday a year We lived in Norwich just off Riverside Road, right close to the river. I […]