I was born in the early 1930s in England's rural West Country. My half-sister was the eldest sibling, then came four brothers and finally myself. Perhaps my most formative years were at Huish's Grammar School, Taunton. That period was followed by four very rich years of cultural intake at the Somerset College of Art. Thus my formal education was concluded. Thereafter I was drafted into the Royal Artillery for a period of National Service. Those two years of military life away from home, gave me a measure of self-discipline and independence. It was not difficult, therefore, to settle into a year's training at Goldsmiths' College, London University, to qualify as an art teacher, which enabled me to embark on a teaching career lasting twenty six years.
There has never been a time in my life when I was not interested in boats. I remember when I was very young playing with a roughly shaped plank which was pointed at one end. By means of a nail I attached a piece of string to it. Then, wearing my Wellington boots, I visited a nearby stream to explore its environs with the 'boat' of my imagination. As she trailed behind me she represented all manner of craft from Indian dug-outs to galleons of a bygone age.
When I was thirteen I made a canvas canoe, and with the local canoe club I spent days exploring and camping beside the Exe estuary. Even whilst in the army I managed to build another canoe for use on the north Welsh coast.
From that time there has been a series of boats which I have built or refurbished. The most notable was Zeta, a twenty-five foot Folksong, which I rigged as a junk.
My largest yacht (30') was the famous Aziz in which Nicolette Milnes Walker made her record-breaking trans-atlantic crossing from Milford Haven to Newport USA. She was the first woman to sail the Atlantic alone without putting into harbour.
Having cruised Aziz to La Coruna from Burnham-on-Crouch, involving a non-stop passage from Falmouth to the Spanish port, I am more than appreciative of Nicolette's splendid achievement.
When I left teaching in 1984 I was fortunate to be employed in other jobs until my final retirement. A job I really enjoyed was being the skipper of the old (1908) ketch Speedwell, under the auspices of the Discovery Dockland Trust at Brighton.
After retiring I took an interest in renovating and cruising a 14' Roamer dinghy. Then I built a modified Storm Petrel, designed by Nick Newland of Swallow Boats. (Details of her are at Micro-Sailoat.) Since then I have built a 50/50 sailing/paddling canoe, 'Caleb' designed by Paul Fisher. Now, I am building a 'Paradox' 16' coastal sailing cruiser for one person.
A few years back I celebrated my 65th birthday. Now retired and being endowed with much spare time, but comparatively little income, I continue my interest in small sailing boats.
One sets out in life with no teeth, and quite often with no hair. Neither is one able to move with any dexterity, but as one reaches the age of an elder statesman, (does not apply to me) if God is so gracious, the characteristics of infant youth return, i.e., no teeth, no hair and no dexterity! The same rule could equally apply to impecuniosity! All arrogance and boasting of early years disappear, only to be replaced with a more humble attitude, born of experience - hopefully resulting in wisdom.
About boats - I am sure the smaller they are, the greater the fun there is to be had from sailing them. In that respect, perhaps the most rewarding yacht for me was 'small' Zeta, a Hunter 19, in which I cruised the English Channel and the North Sea.
Inevitably, if one lives long enough, the question about the enigma of life and its purpose cannot be avoided. Some would reply that there is no need for such questions - we just live, we evolve, or we come about by accident. Our lives have little relevance. That may be your experience, but it is not mine - particularly after sailing on an ocean.
I know there is a God who controls the elements and who sustains all things, and if you would like to find out how He drew me to Himself, I invite you to look at my Confession of Faith in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you already have faith in Him and are able to trust your life completely to His management? On the other hand if you do not know of His peace and forgiveness, I pray that you very soon will.
Jesus gives life in 'abundance' and a 'power for living'.
Just read my Confession to find out how He has done this for me, and you may discover that you can also have that extra dimension of life - a spiritual relationship with the Creator of the whole universe.
Copyright 2001/4 Small Sailboats.
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