Delirium

I owned flower of Gloster for a while. I also have some other pictures of her having the steel nose put on at Pitstone wharf. I understood her to be a hotel boat prior to the filming and according to Pete she was originally polly. Granada kindly sent me a video tape of at least one episode in which the children are travelling through Buckinghamshire. I'm really looking forward to seeing the series although as I recall there was no real script.

I have some episodes of it.

You think right Pete and I suspect I may be the woman Zenataomm had a discussion with some years ago. I'm really keen to know a little of the histories you have for Wanderer and Flower of Gloster if you might have the time. I was reasonably sure of the link between Vulture/Wanderer and Flower of Gloster and it is good to hear that my information makes sense to you but what I hadn't realised was that POLLY became Vulture and it wasn't the 1904 Vulture. Somewhere I have a big file of photos and papers as I spent quite a bit of time looking into her background. I had two other old wooden boats but they never held the same fascination for me. I have pics of her in (iirc) 1986 of her at pitstone wharf having the metal nose put on. I also have pics of her in dry dock at cosgrove if any of those are of help in identifying her. Tonight I have found the video tape of the two episodes of the TV series shown in 1967 so as soon as i can find/borrow a video recorder I will be hunting through it to see if David Schweizer is anywhere to be seen.

Regarding the Vulture/Wanderer/Flower of Gloster link. I have the following (I have a lot more somewhere... wish I knew which box). Really happy to be told it is all rubbish but I offer it here in case it rings any bells or is of interest. I do remember a picture of Vulture/Wanderer in the canal mag taken in the thirties when she had been motorised, it'll be in the elusive box no doubt. I also have some information which suggests that Wanderer was sold to a Mike Samson in 1955 for £500 (Wayfarer her hotel boat partner having broken her back) I have a note saying 'From Browns in Rugby'. Does that mean anything? I was told that Mike renamed her Flower of Gloster and had her Petter put in, replaced the boatmans cabin and engine room cover using the original as the pattern. In the 60s Mike had Malcolm Braine replace the counter. She was then based in the docks on the L&L as part of a trip boat fleet (I have 2 another notes saying Flower of Gloster moorings ltd. and NewWay Holdings ltd)

The marathon garage clear out continues. i have found a variety of bits of paperwork and photographs of Flower of Gloster, including the ones of her at Cosgrove and an article from Granada TV news about the series and a further article about an incident when flower rammed a motor cruiser at market drayton (which features in ep 6) The outboard from the cruiser making a swift descent to the bottom.

Thanks, I spoke to Jem this morning, what an interesting chap! Flower isn't there and he doesn't know where she is so my random bits of boat will stay with me I guess. Thanks for the info guys.

Is puttenham the Jem Bates yard? If so I may contact him as I have some bits from her that I was given in the nineties and I'd prefer them to be reunited if there is ever a plan to do something with the remains

that would make sense. The boat at Cosgrove was definitely Flower, the metal nose and engine had gone. wonder what happened to her after going into storage.

Old thread I know but I have or had two episodes that Granada gave me 20 odd years ago. One features the Anderton boat lift the other features Flower going through Bucks/Beds including the children visiting woburn abbey. I have been clearing the garage recently, if I find the video I will see if it also contains the Stoke Bruerne bit, it may well do, I remember that bit of the journey but cant remember if i saw it on the video or if I just remember it from the book. If I have you in it David you are welcome to a copy to view I am curious about the suggestion she was broken up at puttenham. I have (or again had... moved a few times since then) pictures of her with the engine out and partially broken up at Cosgrove dry dock

Antarmike, thanks for posting this. It is really nice to know a bit more about them. Do you know when the boats got flung down the bank? I wondered how they managed to get quite so far away from the towpath so the dredgings makes sense. When I went to see them it was a pretty tricky journey to get to them almost 20 years ago, so I imagine you'd need Time Team now Best wishes

Oh dear, will look when it is light. Am on the marina at the moment

Thank you I'm not sure how to post pictures here but I'm hoping one of these lines may work... <a href='http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=3540'><img src='http://www.canalworld.net/forums/uploads/gallery_4182_498_18024.jpg' alt='clent 012a.jpg' /></a> http://www.canalworld.net/forums/uploads/g...2_498_18024.jpg http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...si&img=3540

I'm quite close so will pop up and take pics this weekend. I saw Clent earlier in the summer and spoke across the water to someone on the moorings (I'd have gone for a clamber but had an inquisitive toddler to restrain). He said a chap and his girlfriend owned the two boats and they intended "doing 'em up". I couldn't identify the other boat but it was old and shortened. I'll get pics as I'm quite sure someone on here will be able to identify it

TROJAN was at Cosgrove around 1990, just round the corner from LUCY