A new columnist

MANY boaters cruising the Staffs & Worcs Canal will have seen or called at Oxley Marine, and perhaps met its owner Orph Mable, whom we are very pleased to welcome as our new columnist. As as a boat yard owner he will undoubtedly have a different view point on waterway matters.

On completion of 24 years military service in 1992, Orph with wife Jan, purchased a 57ft narrowboat after a life-changing holiday on the Mon & Brec. This reliable craft became the second home for most free weekends and all holidays for the next 12 years. During that time most canals and navigable rivers in the South of England were visited.

Boat Masters licence

Deciding that more could be done to put something back, Orph joined the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, gaining a Boat Masters licence in order to skipper the trip boat Zachariah Keppel.

This came to an end when the family moved to Oxfordshire, and 'discovered' the Wilts & Berks Canal was only half a mile from the front door. Becoming a member and eventually a director of the Trust, enabled many aspects of canal restoration to be understood at first hand, from digging ditches to attending council planning meetings. A very satisfying time.

Oxley Marine

In 2004 Orph and Jan purchased Oxley Marine on the Staffs & Worcs Canal. This being a very full time occupation, free time is at a premium, so unfortunately the family boat had to go! Only to be replaced with many and various craft that come through the business.

Extended boating trips, other than occasionally skippering the trip boat Stafford and recovering broken down craft, are something for the future.

Orph's column  will appear tomorrow (Monday).