Dave Walsh

Bob Roberts with Chris Chattaway during BBC filming on deck in the 50’s.

Dave Walsh brings us news of the sad passing away of Chris Chataway. As Dave puts it, “Rest in peace Chris Chataway, first patron of the Cambria Trust. What a life you led. Pacemaker for the first four minute mile, presenter for BBC and ITV and politician. And of course you sailed on Cambria with Bob Roberts”

Wikipedia has more of course in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Chataway but he has his own special celebrity to us having been involved in the 1956 BBC series “Away From It All” (Episode 2 “Into the Backwaters”) in which he nosed around in the Essex backwaters looking up people who still worked the old traditional ways. You can buy this footage from our shop – it is the first piece on our DVD “Cambria – The DVD (Cambria Restoration Group”. Bob (plus Mate) and Chris visit Ted Gager raking white weed from the sea bed, Herbert Smith fishing for prawns (and dredging for coal), Douglas Mussett who fished oysters and Bill Linnet (Lynott?), the last of the wildfowlers. It’s a fascinating film to see and, of course, contains plenty of Chris Chataway interviewing them all.

Chris Chataway from the BBC series

It was on the strength of Chris’s interest in the Cambria that he was invited to be the Trust’s first Patron, the role now filled by David Suchet.

As promised, a report from Boss of Volunteers, Basil on our involvement in the Faversham Nautical Festival last weekend.

Faversham Nautical Festival, Pic by Dave Brooks. Cambria Stand is green tent above bowsprit.

Says Basil, “This weekend just gone, we were at the Faversham Basin Festival of Sail, where Faversham
Creek Trust were the main fundraisers – There were a couple of visitors to Cambria
corner who were remembering (Mr Volunteer Views) fondly, and regretting your move to Ireland,
but very delighted when they knew that you sort out the website from afar (didn’t know them, and too slow to get names). The musical accompaniment to
proceedings was fantastic and much enjoyed by all comers. SB Lady of the Lea
was visited by a constant stream of people in all age groups, the Creek
Trust appeared to collect many new members which must have made their
efforts all worthwhile. Bangers and burgers were available along with a flow
of beers. We were there to sort of join up the Apprenticeship scheme since
it started via Cambria, and should continue in the Purifier Building,
hopefully. We were very cordially treated. Dave Walsh and
Catherine de Bont were around. She had brought her boat up to join many
others in the Creek.
It was mentioned to me by several people how Medway Ports has become
involved with the Lock Gate, and I pointed out to them that it was project
manager William Collard who initiated this action.”

Basil reminds us that “next week we’re on the pontoon at Gravesend.”

Thanks for that, Basil and thanks to the people who remembered me. The picture is by Dave Brooks. The Cambria stand is the green gazebo behind the bowsprit.

Tag: Dave Walsh

Chris Chataway (RIP)

Up the Creek