LETTErS To ThE EDiTor
Watling Works Edward Samuel The Motorboat
Boatyard Braine Museum
Sir: I am researching the Watling Sir: I am a genealogist and am conducting Sir; It is good to see that the Royal Institution
Works boatyard that was in operation genealogical research on Edward Samuel of Naval Architects has highlighted the
1860s - 1925 in Stony Stratford, Bucks. Braine, whom I believe was involved campaign to save an important piece of
I understand that [Arthur] Edward in shipbuilding in the UK during the marine heritage - the clipper ship “City
Hayes, the third owner of the company latter part of the 19th Century. It is my of Adelaide” (Nov RINA Affairs). The
was a member of the Institute of Naval understanding that he worked for the publicity from organisations such as RINA
Architects in March 1920. I believe he Thames Ironworks in London, England has undoubtedly helped bring the interested
died in December 1920. and was one of the designers of the parties and funding groups together for an
I wonder if you have an archive and Blake Class Cruiser HMS Blenheim that important meeting which was held recently
records of past members, and if you have was launched on 5 July, 1890. I am not in Newcastle. Historic ship enthusiasts will
an archivist, or anyone who could shed sure how to verify this information await the outcome with interest.
any light for me on this member of your and immediately thought of your Perhaps equally important, but not
organisation. I would also be grateful for organisation. attracting much publicity is the closure
any information about the boatyard. Edward Samuel Braine was a mechanical on 4th December 2009 of the National
engineer from England who emigrated to Motorboat Museum (recently renamed as
Alison Leighton Nova Scotia in the mid-1890’s. He brought The Motorboat Museum), details of which
alisonleighton@waitrose.com over a steam locomotive from England are at www.motorboatmuseum.org.uk/
and was instrumental in creating the It has been reported that the Museum’s
Arthur Edward Hayes was elected an Milton and Liverpool railway lines and building is to be reclaimed by the landlord,
Associate-Member in 1911, and as a worked for Sillicker Car works in Halifax. Basildon District Council, to be turned
Member in 1920, at which time he was I would be grateful for any information into a green-themed visitor centre and
recorded as “Chief of the Watling Works, your members might have. local-history exhibition for which a
Stoney Stratford, Bucks”. He died in 1921. government grant of £950,000 is being
Any member with information about Douglas Cochrane C.D., made.
Arthur Edward Hayes, his family or the B.A Master Seaman (Ret’d) After 23 years in operation, the
Watling Works boatyard is requested to Genealogical Association of Motorboat Museum had 38 boats,
contact Ms Leighton, who is a student at Nova Scotia mainly restored or maintained in original
Greenwich University. dcochrane@arrow.com condition, virtually all of which have played
an important part in the development
Chief Executive of the modern motorboat. There were
also 60 period outboard engines (almost
Electric Generation George Barrie
a definitive collection) plus 20 inboard
engines.
MRINA CBE
I spent a day at the museum in 2007 and
Barge the collection is fabulous and speaks for
itself. It is, of course, a national treasure
and should be kept together and available
Sir: Part of the recent Middle East TV Sir: I would be grateful for for public view.
broadcasts commemorating the five years information any member might have on I hope that members will lend their
since the Far East tsunami, has been my late grandfather, George Barrie CBE, support to any group that submits a suitable
some brief footage about an “an electric who was a member of the Institution plan to maintain the motorboat collection.
generation barge” which had been swept and died in 1958. It is very sad that much of the large ethnic
ashore and was still firmly stranded and working boat collection maintained
ashore. He was managing director of the by the Exeter Maritime Museum between
Can any member provide further former shipyard Barclay Curle and 1969 until it closed in 1997 is still locked
details about the design and construction Company in Whiteinch, Glasgow, away in a warehouse somewhere - a whole
of this vessel? probably around the 1940’s to early generation of young people have now
1950’s. missed the opportunity to enjoy a visit to
James Wells the Museum.
Saudi Arabia Cameron Barrie
terakunene@yahoo.co.uk cameronbarrie@ricsonline.org Stuart Roy
Rina affairs January/February 2010 11
RA Jan 10.indd 11 22/02/2010 15:57:21
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