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Contact Allchorn Pleasure Boats
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
William Allchorn
Allchorn Pleasure Boats
Eastbourne - East Sussex
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the
William Allchorn
of Allchorn Pleasure Boats, who run trips from Eastbourne to Beachy Head and the East Sussex coast. This is one of a series of
Simplon Poscards
pages devoted to
Sussex Excursion Vessels
. For details of excursion conatct the operator at:-
www.allchornpleasureboats.co.uk
In 1861, Edward Allchorn established a pleasure boating business to operate from Eastbourne's beach, providing holiday makers with cruises along the seafront and out to sea. The demand grew steadily for this type of attraction, to the extent that many other operators entered the trade and Eastbourne's beaches became extremely busy with boating activities in the years that followed.
As the opportunities for international travel grew after the war years, visitor numbers declined such that by the early 1960's only Allchorn Pleasure Boats and the Sayers Brothers remained as competitors in the trade.
In 1964 the Sayers Brothers decided to withdraw from the business, and the Allchorn family acquired their business and their vessel, the
Southern Queen
, which still delights visitors today sailing under the house flag of Allchorn Pleasure Boats. In the mid 1990's Brian Allchorn, great grandson of Edward Allchorn, decided to retire and placed the business up for sale. A third party family took the business on and operated it successfully until 2000 when they elected to pursue other interests. In May 2001 Allchorn Pleasure Boats was acquired by Maritima Limited, and who continued this unique service until 2006. Ownership passed to James Foster, owner of Eastbourne Marine, in May 2007, and services will operate as normal (details on their website
www.allchornpleasureboats.co.uk
)
During the winter months, both the
William Allchorn
and the
Southern Queen
undergo maintenance and refits to not only ensure the vessels are ready for each new season, but also to preserve this unique piece of maritime heritage. Both craft are entered in the National Register of Historic Vessels at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Additionally, the company owns a World War II Amphibious DUKW which ferries passengers from the shore to the pleasure boats at low tide.
Sections on this Page:-
William Allchorn
- Postcards
William Allchorn
- Images in July 2006
William Allchorn
- Images in September 2007
Allchorn Pleasure Boats Pages:-
Allchorn Pleasure Boats - Page 1
- overview
Allchorn Pleasure Boats -
William Allchorn
- this page!
Allchorn Pleasure Boats -
DUKW
www.allchornpleasureboats.co.uk
- company website
Associated Pages:-
Eastbourne Pier
Sussex Piers
Sussex Excursion Vessels
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards
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Home Page
References:-
www.allchornpleasureboats.co.uk
- History and fleet details found on the Allchorn company website
Trip Out Guides
- Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
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Allchorn Pleasure Boats
William Allchorn
Postcards
The
William Allchorn
is 54 feet in length, weighs 36 tons, is constructed of wood using double-diagonal planking, and is almost certainly the largest beach-launched pleasure boat in service today. She was purpose built as a pleasure boat in 1950, in Newhaven, East Sussex, by E. Cantell & Son.
William Allchorn
is licensed to carry 100 passengers.
Official postcard of
William Allchorn
when new c.1950
This is a modern reproduction printed by The Postcard Company
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Postcard of
William Allchorn
Scan: Ivo Batricevic
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Official postcard of
William Allchorn
Printed by The Postcard Company
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Postcard of
William Allchorn
Printed by The Digital Pixie
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William Allchorn
Images in July 2006
Eastbourne residents and visitors have been surprised by this year's new look for the company's largest vessel, the
William Allchorn
. The usual colours of the vessel, a white hull and yellow funnel, have been replaced with a lavender (French Grey) hull and red funnel, and this has met with some mixed reactions.
Christopher Laycock, Co-Director of Allchorn Pleasure Boats, explained that 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the merger between the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Limited and Clan Line Steamers to form British & Commonwealth Shipping Limited. As with Allchorn Pleasure Boats founded in 1861, the origins of both these famous shipping companies go back to 1857 for Union-Castle Line and 1877 for Clan Line Steamers.
The annual reunion for seagoing and shore staff of these companies will be held this year in Eastbourne during early August. Having served as a navigating officer aboard vessels of both these companies during his seafaring career, Christopher Laycock and Allchorn Pleasure Boats are contributing to this year's event by providing an exclusive cruise to Beachy Head for those attending the reunion in
William Allchorn
carrying the replica colours of the Union-Castle mail ships and flying the British and Commonwealth Shipping house flag. '
William Allchorn
will revert though to the usual livery for the 2007 season.
William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
leaving Eastbourne on a Beachy Head cruise, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
Click to open larger image in new window
William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
Click to open larger image in new window
William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
Click to open larger image in new window
William Allchorn
at the Eastbourne mobile jetty, 3rd July 2006
Photo: ©2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards
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William Allchorn
Images in September 2007
As previously announced,
William Allchorn
reverted to 'P&O colours' in 2007.
DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
On this first attempt, the boat grounded before coming alongside the DUKW
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
William Allchorn
reversed and the DUKW moved to a different location
The low freeboard of the DUKW means passengers can get quite wet
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
William Allchorn
reversed and the DUKW moved to a different location
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
The second attempt proved more successful
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
DUKW passengers board the boat first
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
Boat passengers boarding the DUKW
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
DUKW returning to shore
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
DUKW returning to shore
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
DUKW returning to shore
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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DUKW in use at low tide at Eastbourne with
William Allchorn
DUKW returning to shore
Photo: ©2007 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards, 7th September 2007
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More iamges of the DUKW