Navigation Bar

The

Association of Model Barge Owners

(AMBO)

Incorporating

The Model Thames Sailing Barge Championships

News            as at 25^th January2008

Tony Williams

   Again I have the unpleasant duty of informing you of the death one of our members.

   Although he had been unwell for sometime it was still a shock to hear from Ray Parrott of Tony’s death - fortunately peacefully according to his wife Jean - on October 29^th.

   He was born in 1941 and in turn owned a curtain and curtain hangings business, ran a holiday home park and was a lorry driver for a bakery business.

   Contracting Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in 1998 meant that he retired from delivery driving and manhandling loads in 2002 when his breathing became worse and eventually he was relying on bottled oxygen supplies to keep going.

   He was originally a member of the Broomfield SMSS and a colleague of the late Mike Taylor, who drew the plans for JAMES PIPER for Tony to make the master and from which the GRP hull was moulded (I think that was the way round it went.)

   And that is how a lot of Model Barge owners will remember Tony – as the builder of master models and moulder of good quality GRP hulls for barges and a number of other scale sailing craft. His last - I believe - was for a Norfolk Wherry, the master of which I saw in the building stage and Ray Brigden has one of the first GRP versions. There was also a Bawley produced a number of years ago but his main claims to fame were the Barge hulls at 1/24^th, 1/32^nd  (30”), 24” and 1/48^th (21”), not forgetting keels, leeboards, barge boats and a few 12” yacht hulls. 

   The quality of these hulls has not been exceeded by any commercial enterprise and his artistry in all modelling pursuits was one of the main themes at his funeral service, which at least 20 AMBO, ex AMBO and Broomfield members attended.

   Short, bearded, grumpy but a good modeller, father, grandfather and friend to anyone wanting assistance - he will be missed.

   JAMES PIPER’s, SURF’s and 30” KATHLEEN’s racing at numerous venues will be his memorial.

   A card of condolence was sent to Jean and family.

   My apologies to Jean if I have got any biographical details incorrect!

   Looking through a couple of Club Websites in search of Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter information I was pleasantly surprised to see so many pictures of Barges and Bawleys built from TW GRP hulls and the favourable comments on their versatility and handling.

Richard C

Revised Website Contents

   Ivor Bittle has included new information for anyone wishing to build a model barge in his website (*****) and including the following for those interested in the subjects:

1.      The theory of sailing as applied to a yacht

2.      Building a model of a Thames Sailing Barge   *****

3.      The miniature steam plant fired by gas

4.      Book:  The RC Racing Yacht explained

5.      The model wing sailed yacht

 Look in www.ivorbittle.co.uk

   There will be a link to this site in the ‘Links’ page.

AMBO Events Co-ordinator

Beryl Watts

   Beryl has taken over the booking of tickets, passes etc for any of the Events and Shows to which AMBO is invited.

   If you wish to display at a Show (listed either in ‘Bitts & Bobs’ or in the MTSBC Venues Handbook) contact Beryl for information.

   She will not necessarily go to all the Shows but will arrange for the display items to be taken as well as any tent-age, gazebos etc.

   Contact her on 020 8657 5662                      

                        or    18 Crossways, SOUTH CROYDON, London CR2 8JL

Model Engineer Exhibition 2007

   The 2007 MEE was held at the Ascot Racecourse Grandstand over the weekend 7^th – 9^th September 2007.

   The AMBO Members Richard Chesney and Hans van Leeuwen entered their models in the Marine side of the competitions and were pleased to be awarded medals for their efforts.

   Hans was awarded a Silver medal for his 1/20^th scale model of the Dutch Royal Barge ‘De Groene Draeck’ which has been over 10 years in the building.

   Richard was awarded a Bronze medal for his 1/24^th scale model of the Thames Sailing Barge ‘SIRDAR’ as she would have been seen sailing / racing in the 1950’s.

   Well done not only to them but to all who - in whatever category they entered - were awarded certificates or medals.

Venues 2008

   The MTSBC Barge Match Venues have finally been arranged for 2008

   The venues will include Silvermere (Surrey), Maldon (Essex), Bluewater Retail Park (Kent), Mote Park (Maidstone), Herne Bay, Broomfield (N. London) and of course Weymouth.

   The venues area in this website has been set up so that the Classes, Race Rules, and general information can be accessed as well as the venues information and site maps.

   A Barge Match Handbook will be produced and sent to all interested Barge Skippers.

   It is hoped their will also be Scale Sail events which will include Barge Sailing.