Norfolk Broads Cruise (August 1959)

At the end of August 1959, nine senior boys and two members of staff - Messrs Jefford and Tilbrook - converged on Stalham boatyard, the northernmost boatyard on the Broads. Here, this inexperienced, and in some cases completely mad crew, collected one of the largest motor launches on the Broads, sailing under the name Merlin V.

After loading what looked like tons of stores in the main cabin, we set off southwards on the River Ant. The first day we did not travel far, but the second and subsequent days we travelled freely from river to river, town to town, and Broad to Broad. This was mainly due to there being amazingly good weather throughout the week's cruise. Normally August is notorious for cold, rainy weather, but in 1959 the sun beat down every day, making this cruise really enjoyable.

During the cruise we had time to visit Great Yarmouth for nearly a day, and Norwich, with its beautiful cathedral and castle, for a morning, as well as passing through many small villages built on the Broads and rivers. We travelled up and down almost every river open to us, frantically attempting to avoid sailing craft tacking across the rivers.

On Thursday evening we reached the southernmost point of our voyage-Oulton Broad. The next day we pointed the nose of our boat northwards and set off for Stalham and the end of the cruise.

So ended a very happy cruise on the Norfolk Broads. I and the other members of the crew should like to thank very much the two masters who made the cruise possible.

D. JAMES, L.VI.