Visit to Abbey Boatbuider – 14 June 2025

Posted on LinkedIn – 20 June 2025 by the Clerk.

On Saturday 14 June I was fortunate enough to join Abbey Boat Builder when she so generously hosted a networking event at Reedham in Norfolk to launch both the new yard and the project ‘British Boat Builders – preserving heritage marine crafts’.

We were treated to fascinating, thought-provoking and inspiring speeches from Belinda Joslin of Women in BoatBuilding, Jim Dines of TS RIGGING LIMITED and Heritage Marine and William Reed of the Boat Building Academy.

‘British Boat Builders – preserving heritage marine crafts’ is looking for volunteers for a development board to identify ways of preserving skills and encouraging interest in heritage marine crafts to secure them and generate jobs for generations to come.  Many of those present are working together to develop the Wooden Boat Stage that will feature at the Southampton Boat Show and help to widen understanding of wooden boats.

It was great to see Shipwrights Simon Crawford, Gillian Nahum and William Reed and many other leading lights from the sector getting involved in the discussions and thoroughly enjoying the day. Thank you, Abbey Boat Builder – it was excellent and good luck for the future.

Within the Ark Safe Forever.