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BILL Bunting |
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Bill is another of the unsung hero’s
of powerboating and besides an
everyday job in the boatyards
mentioned worked with some of the
top names in the sport including Tim
Powell and Mike Doxford. He was also
involved with Ken Raybould in
building some high profile hulls for
top designers, but as you will see
his everyday jobs were just as
interesting. |
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I am trying to coax some more inside
stories out of him, keep tuned. |
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WORKING ON THE HAMBLE, IN THE
BEST OF TIMES - Being a Boat
builders account of the way things
were |
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by Bill Bunting. |
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Having finished my short spell in
the RAF in my trade as Boatwright at
RAF Calshot. Previously serving my
full apprenticeship as a shipwright/
boatbuilder. In September 1958, I
applied for a job at Port Hamble. At
their new build projects which were
under way in a large hanger on the
airfield at the end of Hamble Lane. |
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Dave Simmons was the manager who
took the interviews. I had to show
my indentures to prove I had full
knowledge of my trade. My toolbox
was opened for examination of my
tool kit, for sharpness and general
condition. Particularly that the
tools had not been mistreated. If I
was a member of a trade union I had
to agree not to give voice or sway
any fellow workers my views
regarding that institution. Had I
ever worked for Fairey’s of Hamble. |
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This companies employee’s were not
considered good enough for work on
quality craft having not had a fully
indentured apprenticeship. Many
years later I did work with a number
these men and they all agreed their
companies motto was, “In glue and
dust we place out trust” Indeed,
some were very capable craftsmen My
starting rate would be £9 per week,
£11 with full overtime. Considering
I had left a cushy job in the RAF
where I was clearing £15 per week ,
I had to pull my belt in. However a
bonus system was in operation where
it would be possible to earn up to a
25% increase. In all the time I
worked there only six of us out of a
workforce of thirty men ever
achieved 24%. |
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“Ramrod” a Arthur Robb design ocean
racer, was nearing completion when I
started. Whilst working there we
built four Laurent Giles designed
yachts Dorus Mhor, Franda,
Freelander and Manita. Two more
Arthur Robb yachts, Raperee and Wish
Stream. Arthur Robb introduced new
innovations. One of which was
thought on as quite radical, his
idea for screwing the planks to the
timbers with gunmetal screws was a
major departure from the traditional
through clenching system. |
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The final yacht was a Dave Simmons
design named Gimcrack. |
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Towards the end of 1961 work was
easing up and when word came through
that Camper and Nicholsons at
Northam were starting two new builds
and a very busy renovation and
repair programmewas planned. Six of
us left Port Hamble and went to C&Ns
To do this meant four of us had to
join the shipwrights union. Which
was no problem, just to produce our
indentures and find someone to vouch
for us. We paid up our dues and
became members of the “brothers.”
Although we were all known as the
“Sharp edge Shipwrights” It was not
long before I was made aware of
“Demarcation.” |
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Of the two yachts mentioned, one was
“Cardigrae” a 200ft. steel yacht The
other was “ Philante V”. I was given
my first job on Cardigrae The
drawings said Deck Awning. At the
aft end of the ship which was about
30ft. long and the total beam of the
ship wide ¾” ply was the material. A
number of stanchions went along the
centreline of the aft deck to
support the ridge board from which
all the half beams would be attached
to carry the ply A simple straight
forward job, well within my
capabilities. However on the first
day I was made aware of a clutch of
shipwrights who were caulking the
bridge deck. |
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These men were looking in my
direction shaking their heads. When
I approached them and asked the
problem I was told I needed a
driller and to see the foreman. I
was duly issued with the driller
whose name was Joe. Whilst I was
working Joe would remain seated and
visa versa. The Shipwrights (my
brothers) then continued to further
insist that I had a Labourer. When
the labourer came he also remained
seated. Until a foreman appeared.
Then he would leap into action
placing his hands on any part of my
job .Gripping firmly. I nicknamed
this character “ Human Clamp” The
name was eventually shortened to
“Clamp” which he seamed to enjoy. |
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The job went well until the
appearance of a gentleman who asked
what I was doing.I indicated the
drawing which said Deck Awning.
Right said this gentleman who
intrduced himself as the Joiner shop
steward. Stating that the job was
not a shipwrights job but the
joiners. He went directly to the
office and the work I was doing was
halted until the result of the
dispute.Two days later I was
informed by my Foreman to carry on
with the work, but to leave a
caulking seam around the deck
perimeter and to rename the job
description as a “boatdeck” as it
was now to house a dinghy. |
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I do not know if this incident had
any thing to do with me being
removed from Cardigrae. But my next
job was on PhilanteV where I was to
install engine beds, Shaft logs,”P”
brackets and rudders.Well out of the
way of demarcation or so you would
think. I was quite enjoying this
freedom from prying eyes. But when I
was installing the engine beds I
needed to drill through the
bulkheads. I was in the process of
drilling the top bolt at the
foreword end of the bed when a
familiar voice cried out. “What are
you doing. The hole you are drilling
is a joiner’s hole. It’s above the
waterline”. It was the joiners shop
steward again. |
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About this time Thornycrofts next
door were requiring hands on a huge
work programme. All six of us that
had come from Hamble applied for the
work at Thornycrofts. Then a very
odd thing happened. We were declined
a job as we were not classed as
union members. Although we were
paying, the full union subscription.
We had only been allowed entry into
Campers for that occasion. We would
not be welcome anywhere else in the
port. We then all moved back to the
river. We had seen enough of “Union
Rule” one man felt outraged enough
to write to Union headquarters and
after a prolonged battle was allowed
in the docks as a full member. But
the work he was allowed were of the
most menial of tasks to be found. He
finally drifted back to the river. |
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Botley Docks was the next place to
be, where Frank Bond retired
Shoemaker from the midlands, also ex
Speedway star, set up a business on
the upmost part of the Hamble.. We
built two 54ft. Cox and Haswell
designed motor yachts. MY and FY.
Marsha and Youcca Troubetzkoy. Also
Frank and Yvonne Bourner. These
vessels were built to a very high
spec. In fact whilst half way
through the building of the third
and fourth vessels, a 60ft. Cox and
Haswell and a 45ft carvel motor
yacht, Frank informed us that he had
seriously miscalculated on the first
two and needed to go into voluntary
liquidation. We had a very good run,
for it was a very happy place to
work. |
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Some time later Frank Bourner set up
business in Wessex shipyard,”
Bournecraft” with Frank Bond as
manager. The unfinished 60 ft. Cox
and Haswell, craft became our first
job. “ Solaria”. The owner had a
keen interest in the stars. He asked
one day that people working on the
craft of certain star signs should
be removed. It was of little
consequence for some time later
“Solaria” foundered and sank on the
rocks of a Greek island .
We had run of Cox and Haswell
designed Christia 38’s. My job as on
Solaria was engine beds, Shafts “P”
brackets and Steering gear.It was
then decided to use a hull as a plug
and continue the marque in a
FibreGlass version. Thought by many
as a bad move, far too heavy. I
remember boring out for the shaft.
The hull was 2” of solid Glass. It
never performed as the wooden
version did. Mr.Bourner then had the
final Cox and Haswell designed yacht
built. The 70ft. Myduska. a
beautiful vessel. |
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After that two of my mates and I
were involved in the fit out of a
35ft. Christina “Venturer” for the
Raymonds. Father and son partnership
once owners of the yard. This craft
was a lovely boat but shortly after
her launch we came to work one
morning to see 3ft.of her bow
pointing to the sky where she was
moored midstream. Why she sank
remained a mystery. |
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A final note. Just before my
retirement date in 1999 a job
appeared for a shipwright close
to my home here in Hythe, for
the American Army base. I was
intrigued enough to apply. After
a lengthy interrogation I was
informed I had every requirement
to fill the post. However I was
then asked to speak to George. I
was ushered into a room with
George. He asked if I was a
union member and if not he
advised me to join. It would
help with their decision. I was
later turned down for not
complying.
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