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 […]
Boatbuilding
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 […]
Boats, mills and marshes (1960-2017)
David was born and brought up on the Broads and worked for the yacht and hire fleets. His passion for windpumps led him to team up with Paul Reynolds to restore Mutton’s Mill, a labour of love for 40 years. I was born in this house in December 1943. I went to Acle Village Primary until […]
Engineering – a vocation not just a job (1943-2003)
Engineer John gave his expertise to boatbuilding including replacing the engines of Reedham Ferry and repairing a boat on the Seine. I was born in Chingford, Essex, my father was a commissioned officer in the army and my mother was a comptometer operator until she had me. My father unfortunately was a fatality in the […]
Float my boat (1954-2017)
Ivor has worked in the Broads boatbuilding industry. He talks about building wooden boats and using his skills to volunteer at the Museum of the Broads. I was born at home in North Walsham in 1939. I don’t recall a lot about the early days during wartime, except there were always explosions, planes flying over at […]
Sailing through work (1960s-1980s)
Born in Reedham at Ship Cottages next to the river and the swing bridge, Roy left school wanting to work on boats. At age 16 he began an apprenticeship with Bell Boats, Brundall. I was born in January 1942 in Reedham at Ship Cottages next to the river by the Ship Inn and the swing […]
The Norfolk Boatbuilder (1950s-2019)
Mike volunteers at the Museum of the Broads at Stalham, after a long career as a boatbuilder and carpenter for Norfolk firms and nationally. He learned his trade after World War II, having worked on airborne lifeboats in the Navy. He is Vice President of the Norfolk Wherry Trust, recognising his work for them which […]