Felixstowe Ferry
September 23, 2021
Felixstowe Ferry. Never be late to the bar!
The Deben Bar is feared by many a sailor, but it is nothing compared with the wrath of John White at Felixstowe Ferry! Only joking John - but you were quite right - I did not give myself nearly enough time to exit the River Ore, enter the River Deben, interview you and get all the way up to Woodbridge - all on one tide.
Born in 1939, John has been HM here for 25 years and as you will find out as we go further up the Deben - they live for a long time in these parts. His father in law ran the ferry boat for many years and had many interesting names for her .... "Our Times", "Late Times" and the last one "Odd Times" which explains John's rather unusual VHF Channel callsign (photo 7).
He explained the ferry boomed during the RAF's occupation of Bawdsey Manor north of the river. For it was here that in top secret, Sir Robert Watson-Watt and the RAF developed radar during WW2. At this time the ferry had to operate 365 days a year in all weather.
A boat builder by trade John's expertise was in steaming oak to make the curved "frame" or "timbers" of a hull. After some years running the ferry he was promoted to HM and now sits in his "palatial" office (photo 5) looking after the moorings, watching yachties rush for the river mouth and reminiscing about times past. Having missed the tide myself, I had plenty of time to listen to John's stories - the severe floods in 1953 and 1970 which destroyed much of the village, the lobster hoops he used to lay (now stored in his amazing shed - photo 6), how the "Lady of the Manor" still owns the ferrying rights and about the day some smugglers using a mini-sub were chased into the river by the SBS.
John explained he gets paid an "Honorarium", meaning he is honoured to be paid very little for what he does! It was an honour to meet you John and a great start to my trip up the River Deben.
The Deben Bar is feared by many a sailor, but it is nothing compared with the wrath of John White at Felixstowe Ferry! Only joking John - but you were quite right - I did not give myself nearly enough time to exit the River Ore, enter the River Deben, interview you and get all the way up to Woodbridge - all on one tide.
Born in 1939, John has been HM here for 25 years and as you will find out as we go further up the Deben - they live for a long time in these parts. His father in law ran the ferry boat for many years and had many interesting names for her .... "Our Times", "Late Times" and the last one "Odd Times" which explains John's rather unusual VHF Channel callsign (photo 7).
He explained the ferry boomed during the RAF's occupation of Bawdsey Manor north of the river. For it was here that in top secret, Sir Robert Watson-Watt and the RAF developed radar during WW2. At this time the ferry had to operate 365 days a year in all weather.
A boat builder by trade John's expertise was in steaming oak to make the curved "frame" or "timbers" of a hull. After some years running the ferry he was promoted to HM and now sits in his "palatial" office (photo 5) looking after the moorings, watching yachties rush for the river mouth and reminiscing about times past. Having missed the tide myself, I had plenty of time to listen to John's stories - the severe floods in 1953 and 1970 which destroyed much of the village, the lobster hoops he used to lay (now stored in his amazing shed - photo 6), how the "Lady of the Manor" still owns the ferrying rights and about the day some smugglers using a mini-sub were chased into the river by the SBS.
John explained he gets paid an "Honorarium", meaning he is honoured to be paid very little for what he does! It was an honour to meet you John and a great start to my trip up the River Deben.