This old cabin cruiser is a long way from home, moored down at Bursledon pool, she was built for the sheltered waters of the Norfolk Broads and area of flooded wetland in the east of England.
I've passed her many times thinking she was just a displaced riverboat, until I spotted the name "Lady Beryl". I remembered a boat of that name on the Thames during the 1980's, I think she was kept near Old Windsor and was reputed to have been owned by Gorge Formby the actor and entertainer and named after his wife.Some research suggests she is in fact the same boat, built in 1950 in Wroxham, custom-built by Windboats, designed by Graham Bunn and one of the largest Broads cruisers ever built.
George Formby and Beryl cruised the Norfolk Broads during the 1950s. The boat was sold around 1960/61, since when she has had a number of owners and more recently was used as a houseboat.
For those interested there is some recent discussion on the Broads Forum
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I went over Lady Beryl a few years back when a friend of mine was interested in buying her. She's a nice boat with lots of expensive wood and a huge cabin in the stern. But only one prop so won't be particularly manoeuvrable. There are pics with G. Formby on board.
ReplyDeleteYour right about the manoeverability, She wont turn to port whatsoever at slow speeds. I kept her in Deacons for a year or so, which is where I found her. I took her across to Cowes, and she's awaiting a spot in the Classic Boat Museums workshop for a full refit, before I take her back home to the Broads.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of her.
My parents owned her for a time back in the late 70's. They purchased her from one of the directors of Smith's crisps just along from Bray. loads of charachter, expensive wood and history. After a few years they sold her on. Would love to see her after the re-fit plus will see what old photos I can dig out.
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