I get a nice email in from barge book and sailing book author, friend of the Cambria, Nick Ardley. He’s been out exploring the foreshores again and has come across a chunk of the barge, SB Montreal. Nick Takes up the story. Picture is from Nick.
Montreal bow badge found by Nick Ardley; Picture by Nick.
“A little something for you… I was walking (with ‘the Mate’*) between Tilbury Fort and Coal House Fort along the Thames shore last weekend and came across a barge’s ‘badge’ sitting up on the tide line near Tilbury power station. It looked familiar – I photographed it, of course.
Comparing the badge pictures with pictures of the badges that were on the Montreal, now broken up at Erith, it is clear it has come from her. It is possible to see the tip of the arrow head on the carved yellow line. Looking at my pictures (from Nigel Field a member of the Erith YC) it is clear that the badge was from her starboard bow.
If anyone wants the badge it sits about mid distance from turn of wall by West Tilbury Creek and the power station’s jetty. It is up high, but tides are coming towards springs … so it might go wandering about.”
*For those not familiar with Nick’s writings of his meanderings on the good ship ‘Whimbrel’, ‘the Mate’ is how he describes his Good Lady when she is crewing the boat and keeping him out of mischief. Nick tells me that his sailing season has been relatively good to them on Whimbrel so far this year … they have been out a dozen times for some lazy (cold), gentle and exhilarating sails. ‘The Mate’ is now ‘retired’ so has done more during a tide than she has for many years… The boat has also been in a spot of filming. Nick invites us to go see this on his website at http://www.nickardley.com/
Thanks for all that, Nick, and good sailing. Regards to The Mate also. Get the bacon sandwiches on!