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Memories of The Norfolk Broads in the 1990s
1990s History
1990s Memories
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By Joyce Chesney
October 1993
We were just beginning to second week of our Broads holiday and, having spent the first week on the Southern Rivers, we crossed Breydon to meet up with two lots of friends at Ranworth to spend the night. As we moored up it was just spitting with rain, but we all settled in for a good night with lots of laughter, good food and a little alcohol. (well OK, rather a lot of alcohol, actually!) One of the nicest things about boating is to hear the rain on the roof of the boat when you are safely moored for the night and snug under the duvet. But this night the rain did not stop, it was still tanking down when we arose the next day and we did not go far that day as the rain continued to fall.
Apparently between 50 and 60 mm fell on the 11th, 12th and 13th of October and nearly 4 inches was measured at Woodbastwick over a 48 hour period. It had been a wet autumn already and the Rivers were flowing strongly even before this exceptional rainfall. I believe the rain stopped after three days and we carried on cruising and found the rivers very quiet in places. Some boats had returned to their boatyards and hirers had chosen to end their holidays early. We used CB radio to get information about the river heights and bridge heights (this was in the days before mobile phones) and telephoned ahead to see if it was safe to moor. Womack was OK, although water lapped that quay heading and climbing off a high boat could be a problem.
Our Swiss friends had a boat from the boatyard up the River Ant and, being a high craft, it was impossible to get it back there under Ludham Bridge. By the Friday the height under Ludham Bridge was 7’ 7”, we might have got our boat under but not theirs. So they had to end their holiday at Womack and unpacked their boat and were transported by road back to their car in Stalham. We said our goodbyes to them there, and we left ourselves to return to our boatyard in Wroxham. The scenes through Horning were unbelievable. The car park at the Ferry lnn was completely under water. It was impossible to see where the river was supposed to end and the staithe begin. At the Swan Hotel the picnic tables were being used by anglers who were sitting on beer crates on the tables, surrounded by water, merrily fishing away!
On reaching our boatyard we found that was flooded also and guess what? I had not brought my wellies! We did moor with difficulty, and a friend loaned me her boots to get to the village where the local store was doing a wonderful trade in Wellington Boots! Many craft were caught on the wrong side of bridges and the yards were helping each other out in turning boats round for new hirers on Saturday. We made new friends during that the holiday, the flooding problems brought out the spirit of the Blitz and everyone helped when needed.
Christmas in September
Over the many years of boating the Norfolk Broads, we have made many friends from all around the country, from the local area and even from abroad. We met our Swiss friends in 1990. We were moored at Womack and saw this large craft about to moor alongside us, so as usual we went out to see if we could help. Actually, no help was needed because the skipper was obviously very experienced, and we soon got chatting and discovered they were from just outside Zurich and had been coming to the broads for nearly as long as we had. They loved to cook on the boat, even making the most wonderful bread and we enjoyed many meals and their hospitality over the years. We decided that in order to repay their kindness we would surprise them and, after much discussion, a typical English Christmas meal was proposed. We enlisted the help of two other friends who were going to be cruising at the same time and gradually the plans took shape.
On a Sunday in September 1995 we all moored at Womack and told the Swiss to be ready for dinner at 6.00 PM. Then we spent all afternoon decorating the boat with Christmas streamers, candles, hanging Christmas cards and being busy in the galley. Despite our best efforts, I wasn’t able to get a Norfolk Turkey in Norfolk! Instead, I bought one at our home Sainsbury’s and transported it packed in a cool box. The first course was aboard C and D’s boat and was smoked salmon, avocado and prawns, then we took everyone aboard our boat, where Christmas Carols played, and the table was laid with crackers and festive napkins. Along the bank came Father Christmas, ringing his bell and carrying a sack and delivered presents for all of us. The Turkey, even though I say so myself, was very good and was accompanied by D’s wonderful roast potatoes, stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon, sprouts, carrots and gravy. The piece-
The next day, people in the village were talking about those idiots on a boat who were having Christmas three months early, but who cares? We enjoyed ourselves and so did our Swiss friends
© Joyce Chesney 2009
A large collection of wonderful photographs of the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads, take during some of Joyce and her husband John’s holidays, can be found within the 1970s Gallery section of the Broadland Memories website.