Hearsay 6 A Welsh Influence

Compton Castle was a generous boat. She shared what little she had.

‘These are my railings, take, lean. Here is my wheelhouse, guide those who need direction. Let my teak doors welcome invited guests and safeguard those within, and may my companion ways provide a sure footing.’

Or maybe it wasn't her choice, someone sold her out.

Perhaps though it’s just down to cost awareness and nothing to do with sacrifice at all.

A keen eye will note at Kingswear and at Old Mill Creek parts are missing. Most invisible are railings and the wheelhouse from which Captain Steer had prophetically spoken a few months ago.

When the directors had decided the Board of State Trade Surveyor's report would be too expensive to implement they made a number of decisions.

"She’s not worth the money; would cost us more than she’s worth to take the bloody boiler out to inspect it. No bloody way, man, far too expensive. Cheaper to have a new boat."

The voice stridently dominating the meeting was not of these parts. Mr Archibald Gomer Davies of Barry, director appointed in 1961, had a financial interest and influence which flowed therefrom.

"Keep some of the useful bits; we can use them on the new boat"

The new boat somehow came to be called Conway Castle. Gomer Davies of Barry influence? Probably. It’s wheelhouse was Compton Castle’s.

“How could they? What’s Conway to do with Devon?” And there were blunter observations.

But Conway Castle she was, to replace Compton Castle, and built by Philip of Dartmouth: a brand new twin screw 100 ft motor vessel except for deck rails and wheelhouse. She was launched on 25th March, 1963. Harold Rundle was among the onlookers. A worn out paddle steamer lay close by.

"I name this boat Conway Castle," said Mrs T L Price (from Wales?)

"It's all bollocks. I’d call ‘er Castle Furious ; now there’s a better name," muttered Bruiser.

He walked back home fuming all the way. "Conway be buggered. What’s Conway to do with the Dart ?”

Nothing really. And from 1977 nothing at all. She was sold to Severn Leisure Cruises , to run from Tewksbury and Upton-upon-Severn.

Her most adventurous trip was her first, when she was brought around Lands End from Dartmouth in gale force winds.