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Nature once again played havoc with Broadland during the winter of 1962/63 which was the coldest on record. The bad weather started just before Christmas and from Boxing Day to early March much of England was continuously under snow. The mean maximum temperatures for January 1963 were 5 degrees centigrade below average with the coldest day recorded in Norfolk being -19 at Santon Downham near Thetford on January 23rd. The rivers and Broads became frozen, coasters became trapped in the ice at Reedham, and many birds and water animals perished in the sub zero temperatures. This was of course the usual time for the boatyards to be overhauling their fleets in preparation for the next season, but many found these efforts hampered by the snow and ice. The 23rd of January also saw the loss of one of the areas best known landmarks when Horstead Mill was gutted by fire. Thought to have been caused by an electrical fault, three fire engines attended the blaze having to cut holes in the ice, which was over a foot deep, in order to provide water for their hoses. Although the fire was under control within an hour it was too late too save the wooden structure. The roof of St Helen’s Church at Ranworth was also badly damaged by a fire in 1963.

Broadland was still ever changing to meet the needs of the holidaymaker. Many improvements had been made to the waterways during the 1950s and early 1960s, comprehensive dredging and weed clearance had seen previously un-navigable Broads and rivers re-opened to the public once more. Both Rockland and Surlingham Broads were once again in use and by the late 1950s the River Chet had been dredged, new quays built and boatyards were established. Quay headings and staithes had been improved around the system including the building of a new concrete quay at Reedham in 1962.

The riverside shops also changed to suit the market with late opening hours and Sunday shopping becoming widespread. By 1963 another of Broadlands most famous retail names was established with the opening of Latham’s Stores at Potter Heigham and at Ranworth the old granary buildings were restored and the new, self-service Granary Stores and Buffet opened.  For those wishing to stay on land, rooms could be had at The Bure Court Hotel at Wroxham for 22s 6d per night for bed and breakfast or 40 s a night full board and the 1965 edition of Hamiltons included an advert for The Golden Egg Motel in Oulton Broad described as “the newest idea in modern living designed especially for motorists and yachtsmen to relax in out of this world comfort at down to earth prices”. Rooms cost 50 shillings per double/twin room and dances were held every night. Regular dances were still being held in Norwich, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Ranworth and Potter Heigham along with dinner dances at some of the areas Hotels including “Cringles Country Club” at Potter Heigham which was the house built by the late Herbert Woods for his family in the 1930s. Some of the attractions available included Somerleyton Hall which was now open to the public on Thursdays, at Ludham the Manor Bird Sanctuary, also known as The Fairy Garden, was popular with visitors who could see “the gigantic flowers, toadstools and figures which turn the gardens into a giant’s playground” whilst Pettitts at Reedham advertised their Feathercraft shop offering handmade gifts for sale. 1963 also saw the formation of The Norfolk Windmills Trust which took over the care, preservation and restoration of many of Broadlands mills and windpumps.

Plenty of choice was also available for those wishing to dine out rather than cook on board. Where the riverside public houses had once been solely drinking establishments, over the previous decade many began to offer food to their clients. Some, like the Ferry Inn at Reedham and The Red House at Cantley provided just bar snacks, whilst others offered more extensive menus. The Bridge Inn at Acle was home to Norman Chalks Restaurant which advertised traditional meals such as chicken or steak and chips but also had some rather more exotic offerings such as Kangaroo Tail Soup, Chicken Maryland and Venison Creole.  Visitors to Norwich could enjoy dinner for two at the Lanchow Chinese Restaurant, the first to open in the area, at a cost of 10 shillings each.

By 1964 there were estimated to be over 5,000 motor craft and nearly 2,500 sailing craft on the Broads. These figures included some 1717 hire cruisers which outnumbered the private motor cruisers by 3-1, but the numbers of private sailing cruisers were now much greater than those available to hire. There were also 19 large passenger cruisers and three old steamers which provided guided tours for an estimated 260,000 day visitors a year. The numbers of GRP motor cruisers were gradually beginning to increase and diesel engines were now commonplace. Hoseasons 1964 brochure contained just 3 pages of yachts against the 28 pages of motor cruisers available from 43 boatyards. Larger parties could hire the 8 berth “Aqualine” from Porter and Haylett at Wroxham which was advertised as being a “brand new clinker built craft of ultra modern design” and had 5 cabins, 2 WC’s and a shower bath. H.E.Hipperson at Beccles offered “brand new architect designed craft” in the 4 berth “Waveney Heron” and Waveney Bittern” from £27 to £52 10s a week whilst Maffet Cruisers of Loddon offered three of their “Barbara” class, 4 berth cruisers for hire at between £21 and £49 10s per week. The brochure said that “these attractive, modern fibreglass craft have been built to the latest design and fitted out in a luxurious manner on the open plan basis” and a portable television set could be hired for a charge of £2 10s per week.

Blakes 1964 brochure had 40 pages of motor cruisers ranging from the 2 berth “Broad Class” with a GRP hull from Easticks Yacht Station at Acle which could be hired at a cost of £10 7s to £18 per person per week, up to the 6 berth “Envoy” from the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company at Wroxham at between £6 18s and £12 per person.  The NBYCo also offered the 4 berth “Ambassador”, built in 1963 with a fibreglass hull and wooden cabin and featuring and electric water system. Other 4 berth boats available included the 34ft “Swan Cake” from Collins Pleasure Boat Company at Oulton Broad and “Freshwind” from Windboats of Wroxham which was described as being of “ultra modern design with a fibreglass sliding top” and featured a sitz bath and a built in television.

Blakes were now the main agent for most of the remaining sailing cruisers on hire and the 1964 brochure contained 13 pages of these. The 2 berth “Daisy” could be hired from Ernest Collins at Wroxham for a cost of £6 17s to £8 per person per week, Hunters 3 berth “Wood Rose” was slightly cheaper at between £5 15s and £6 15s, whilst the 28ft, 4 berth “Bootlegger” from Eastwood Whelpton could be hired for £7 4s rising to £8 10s during the peak season. It was thought that over 10,000 people annually enjoyed sailing on the Broads which included many schoolchildren. Courses for them were organised by the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association, Hertfordshire Education Sailing School and the National Association of Youth Clubs amongst others. Decoy Broad and it’s adjoining campsite were leased to The Norwich Boy Scouts Association and was used by large numbers of scouts every year.

Although the numbers of people hiring sailing cruisers had decreased, the popularity of the cheaper plywood dinghies being produced had created a need for more sailing tuition. As previously mentioned, Blakes had begun offering weekend sailing courses in 1960 but others also started to offer similar services. Erick Manners had established the Broadland School of Sailing at Martham, Desmond Truman had set up a school at Oulton Broad and in 1965 a new school was created at Upton which offered tuition in Ospreys and Enterprises for beginners. These weekend courses included accommodation at the nearby Broadland County Club and cost £8 per person.

As the numbers of visitors to Broadland continued to increase various organisations began to become concerned about the effect that tourism was having on the environment. During the peak summer season the waterways were becoming very congested, particularly on the Northern Rivers, with boats having to moor two or three abreast at the more popular spots. It had also been noticed that pollution was very evident and there were fears that if the numbers of craft on the water continued to increase then the problem would continue to get worse, causing irrevocable damage to wildlife and the surroundings. In 1963 a draught report was produced by Nature Conservancy and in 1965 their “Report On Broadland” was published. A working party had been put together which represented various bodies with Broadland including conservationists, councillors, the boathire industry and the chairman of Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners who were the forerunner to the modern day Broads Authority.

The report found that the source of the pollution was caused by several factors. Sewage effluents were being discharged directly into the rivers at Stalham, Ludham and several other towns but the largest problem was the Norwich Corporations disposal plant at Whitlingham.  By the time the report was published many improvements had already been made in this area but it was found that a great many riverside properties were still discharging crude sewage straight into the waterways. Most boats on the Broads were still fitted with the old sea toilets which also discharged straight into the rivers, and this caused problems wherever large numbers of holiday craft moored together overnight. There was also found to be a certain amount of oil pollution from the motorised craft. By far the biggest problem in the decline of water quality was caused by the farming methods of the day and the run off of nitrates from fertilizers used on the land. Although this was recognised to a certain extent, it would be a few more years until the true extent of this issue was realised. The River Authority was to bring in measures to help combat the pollution caused by sewage. New bye-laws were introduced to prohibit discharge directly into the rivers and properties which stood on land leased from them had to ensure that their systems were changed.  The boatyards were now required to start fitting holding tanks wherever possible onboard their fleets and over the next few years this was indeed applied.

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The 1960s - An Historical Overview

Transport links to the region were also improving all the time and, although the railway stations at Stalham and Catfield had closed in 1960, most of the Broadland railway lines escaped Dr Beechings axe in the mid 1960s. Various travel companies arranged transport to the Norfolk Broads for visitors including Robinsons who provided coach travel from Lancashire for 57 shillings in 1963. The Norfolk Broads Travel Club were based in Wembley in Middlesex and arranged travel from London and the South East of England for large or small parties either by chauffeur driven cars or in 8, 12 and 19 seat mini coaches.