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Designed & Maintained By Carol Gingell

By Brenda Lambert & Jeffery Hammond

The Log of “Corinthian” June 1949

Saturday 4th June               Night Mooring: Fleet Dyke, South Walsham

1600      Slipped from Moore’s Yard, having previously had ½ hrs. trial run with               engineer on board.

              Downstream to Salhouse Broad passed Horning Ferry.

1720      Moored for tea ½ mile from ferry.

1840      Slipped and proceeded passed remains of Abbey Gate and explored South               Walsham Broad.

2000      Returned along Fleet Dyke and moored near its mouth for the night.

              Dinghy was given its first outing by the boys while the girls prepared their               first meal on board.

2100      Supper:      Mushroom soup

                                Cold salad

                                Veal loaf

                                Cheese & biscuits

                                Coffee

Lunch:     Salad

               Corned beef

               Pineapple flan & cream

Washed up and had a rest. Trevor, Don, Maureen & Ruth went sailing while Brenda and Jeff prepared for next meal, after a short walk round Dyke.  

1740    Tea and cakes.

1830    Slipped – well navigated again by Don from crowded dyke and proceeded to

            Potter Heigham once more, where we watered ship. Jeff stopped engine by             overheating – Black Mark, Jeff!! Proceeded at snail’s pace to Thurne Dyke,             mooring off starboard corner of dyke.

Dinner:    Chops

               Peas, tomatoes & potatoes

               Rhubarb and custard

               Coffee

Monday 6th June – Whitsun Bank Holiday        Day mooring:  Thurne Dyke

                                                                                             Night mooring:  Acle Dyke, Eastick’s Yard

Early morning tea by Maureen. Jeff collected milk in the dinghy at 8.00am. Motor cruiser picking up a crew member carried away out port fender, but this was retrieved.

Lunch:    Smoked haddock

              Peas, mashed potatoes

              Fresh apricots and custard

              Coffee

After recovering from lunch – Don and Jeff went sailing. Girls tidied up and washed smalls. Took on fuel and

1725    Slipped and proceeded upstream towards Ludham. Had breakdown – engine – due to overheating –  slight damage to starboard             gunwale on drifting to emergency mooring.

Weather: Bright intervals – rather cloudy though most times. Not as bright as yesterday. Shower mid-day. Stiff breeze in noon.

Passed Thurne and wended way up Womack Water – very pretty scenery and

1900    Found pleasant mooring alongside a wood. All went off in dinghy, Jeff rowing, and we explored theWater and returned for Dinner.

2000    Dinner: (light)    Soft rows on toast

                                    Cheese & biscuits

                                    Coffee

Washed up and went into Ludham Village to “King’s Head” and “Baker’s Arms” which didn’t come up to expectations. Woke up latter house with sing-song. Homeward bound – quite merry. Turned in at 11pm.

1230    Slipped and cruised up River Ant. Watered ship at Ludham Bridge and continued up to Irstead for lunch. Boys purchased veg. and             potatoes from nearby cottage.

1600    Slipped and proceeded to Barton Broad. Explored broad as far as Neatishead but found moorings crowded so retraced our route and             moored at Old Lime Kiln Dyke for night. Lost mop twice here – once by Ruth and once by Brenda. Jeff made marvellous recovery of             same.Trevor had some difficulty in turning round at Neatishead? Don, Ruth, Maureen went for a row.

Dinner:    Corned beef

               Salad & potatoes

               Gooseberries & custard

               Coffee

Weather: Cloudy in the morning – bright sunny periods during afternoon and evening.

Boys in a very cheerful mood – why? Heaven alone knows. Jeff had tummy trouble!

After dinner went to village and bought milk (with loan of can by farmer’s wife) – adjourned to the “Eagle Tavern” – large party of broads folk – one chap played the piano and there was a terrific uproar. Returned to “Corinthian” – chocolate biscuits and late to bed.

Thursday 9th June        Day mooring: Old Lime Kiln Dyke

                                             Night mooring:  Malthouse Broad, Ranworth

The most wonderful morning. Ruth and Brenda went rowing in the dinghy at 6.00am. in their pyjamas – and photographed swans and the boats moored alongside. Ruth made early morning tea.

Breakfast:    Cereals

                   Bacon, tomatoes, fried bread

                   Toast, marmalade & coffee.

Maureen and Brenda fetched milk (two journeys). Don and Brenda washed up.

1015    Slipped – Jeff at the wheel. Proceeded up Barton Broad en route lost a             fender and Brenda retrieved same by dinghy. Moored at Stalham and went             shopping – had coffee, bought sweets and wrote cards.

Weather:  Still beautiful – really hot and shorts and suntops all day.

The following is a transcript of the log of a holiday taken on the motor cruiser “Corinthian” which was hired between the 4th and 11th June 1949. Written by Brenda Lambert and Jeffery Hammond, the log details their week afloat with a group of friends on board the cruiser which was hired from R.Moore & Sons of Wroxham. The log was submitted to the archive by Brenda and Jeffery’s daughter, Debbie Whymant. A selection of photos taken by the Hammond’s during this, and subsequent holidays on the Norfolk Broads can be found in the 1900-1950 Gallery.

Weather: On slipping at 1600 encountered heavy thundery shower but it cleared and the remainder of the day was calm and clear.

Sunday 5th June          Day mooring: Fleet Dyke

                                           Night mooring: Thurne Dyke

Early morning tea by Don. Mooring very satisfactory, but crew, especially the girls, were somewhat disturbed by noise of lapping water against gunwales. They woke at 3.00am and talked. The bunks proved extremely comfortable.

0900      Breakfast:    Kippers or poached eggs

                                 Cereals

                                 Toast & marmalade

                                 Coffee

1050      Slipped and proceeded downstream to Potter Heigham and Don at the wheel navigated “Corinthian” smoothly through the notorious

              bridge. Thence to Pleasure Boat Dyke off Hickling Broad.

1230      Arrived and moored. Don and Trevor went sailing. Crew except Maureen had a drink at “Pleasure Boat Inn”.

Weather:  Beautiful clear blue sky but clouded a bit on slipping. Improved later, stiff breeze and encountered many yachts. All felt sun-burnt                 and wind-swept.

After dinner drinks at “Lion Hotel” and proceeded merrily back to “Corinthian”. Turned in at 11.00pm.

0900    Breakfast:    Cereals

                               Bacon & tomatoes

                               Toast & marmalade

                               Coffee

Stores collected in dinghy by Ruth and Jeff.

1100    Slipped and headed for Yarmouth.

1245    Moored 2 miles upstream from Yarmouth for lunch.

           Lunch:    Spaghetti & tomatoes

                         Potatoes

                         Rhubarb and custard

1400    Slipped and arrived Yarmouth at

1500    Moorings crowded and had some difficulty in finding one.  Went ashore and walked through town to sea front – extremely crowded.             Went on Pier and tried Amusement Arcade and bumper cars. Proceeded back to Yarmouth Yacht Station by taxi – we couldn’t get             back quick enough. Watered ship.

1730    Slipped and proceeded upstream to

2000    Acle Dyke. Very pleasant mooring, peaceful and calm. Ruth went rowing in dinghy and later Trevor was taken aboard and they went             sailing.

2100    Dinner:    Sausage meat

                           Peas and potatoes

                           Steamed marmalade pudding

                           Coffee

Weather: Fine morning with stiff breeze. Later sun shone and we had the best day so far. Suntops and shorts all  day.

Went to “Hermitage Inn” for drinks – Jeff woke up the village playing the piano and we had a rowdy sing-song. Turned out at closing time and returned to “Corinthian”. Tea and bed.

Tuesday 7th June            Day mooring: Acle Dyke

                                              Night mooring:  Womack Water, Ludham.

Brenda made early morning tea. Ruth collected milk and later Don.

Breakfast:     Cereals

                    Fried eggs and bread

                    Toast, marmalade & coffee

Maureen and Ruth went in dinghy before breakfast. Don and Maureen sailed soon after their return. Trevor inflated his rubber dinghy. A fishmonger came alongside. All proceeded to Acle Village and collected stores and visited church. Jeff and Don bought identical horse pipes. Stocked up with cigs at a barber’s shop. Don and Jeff had a drink at Hermitage Inn and Trevor went sailing. Girls prepared lunch and later boys watered ship.

Wednesday 8th June        Day mooring:  Womack Water

                                                Night mooring:  Old Lime Kiln Dyke Nr. Neatishead

Trevor made early morning tea. Maureen collected the milk (two journeys) found its quite a long walk.

Breakfast:    Grapefruit

                   Cereals

                   Boiled eggs

                   New buttered Hovis

                   Toast & marmalade

                   Coffee

While Don tinkered with the engine the rest went round the backwaters in dinghy. On return Ruth, Brenda and Don went for a walk into village to buy a loaf.

Watered ship further up dyke and Brenda took dinghy upstream to wait while they turned round. Proceeded back to Barton Broad and dropped mud weight and Don went sailing before lunch. (Picked some water lilies).

1430    Lunch:    Chops

                          Peas, new potatoes & greens

                          Pears, gooseberries & custard & cream

                          Coffee

Trevor went sailing for ½ hr. Left Barton Broad and proceeded up passed Barton Turf and up continuation of River Ant in direction of Wayford Bridge. Stuck in Dilham Canal mud about 100 yds. From Tonnage Bridge. Reversed off mud with difficulty able to turn boat round and decided to moor and go in search of eggs and milk. Complete crew took dinghy, rowed by Maureen up passed Bridge and bartered for milk and ducks eggs at Tonnage Bridge Farm. (Jeff left the kitty behind).

Slipped once more and proceeded downstream to Barton Broad (tea en route) and with general disapproval Don anchored close to lunch-time mooring. Heated discussion and we again slipped, Brenda at the helm, to Irstead – Trevor was put ashore and ship lay to while he tried to get eggs – no luck.Underway again and down River Ant to Ranworth passing Ludham Bridge to Malthouse Broad. Broad was seething with other craft. Maureen bought us in and we anchored close off shore to Maltster Public House.

High tea:    Ducks eggs

                 Fresh bread & butter

                 Cocoa

Took to dinghy after tea, Maureen again rowing us, and went to Maltsters which proved to be very quiet – at least we all felt quiet. 10.30pm. returned on board and turned in. Cold mist blew up after dark.

Brenda Lambert & Jeffery Hammond

Don Thompson

Corinthian at Acle in June 1949

Ruth Sullivan

Trevor Hall

Maureen Hearn

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