Author's barge is destroyed in fire - Staffordshire Sentinel
Calamitous news: Phyllis May, the well-travelled narrowboat of Terry Darlington, was burned last night at its mooring in Stone boatyard.
All humans and animals are safe, and Terry Darlington is reported stoic:
"Someone rang us and told us our boat was in a fire so we went down there. It was a furious blaze.
"It started a couple of boats away from us, spread to the next boat, which sank, then it spread to ours. It's burnt out end to end.
"We're upset, but nobody was injured and the boat's insured, so it could have been a lot worse. Luckily our dog Jim wasn't on board at the time.
"It's ironic that the boat's taken us half-way round the world, though tornadoes, hurricanes and alligator-infested waters, then burns to death at its own mooring."
After two successful books Terry and Monica had spoken of a final long tour and travel book. One idea was Narrow Dog to ... somewhere in the Baltic, via the European waters.
Now, sadly, it's Narrow Dog to the bottom of the Trent & Mersey.
How sad for them, and yet how glad I am that it was only the boat.
Irony is something Terry spots easily, and for any writer it's the salt of creativity. This may yet be the genesis of his next book.
Irony is something I can spot too. For example it was in that very same Stone boatyard, in 1951, that L.T.C. Rolt's beloved Cressy was broken up and burned. And this year is the 70th anniversary of Tom Rolt's original voyage around the canals, the source material for Narrow Boat, the book that inspired the saving of the canals. Rolt went on to write many other books, and so could Terry.
(Oh, by the way, someone who won't be sorry is Jim, the original 'narrow dog', pictured above eating pork scratchings. He hates boating, said Terry. Loves scratchings, tho')
The sight of a burned-out narrowboat is distressing when it's your own, but it's also strangely fascinating. Inside, the range of colours is diminished, but it's replaced with a whole new palette of smells and textures.
Below is the interior of (more irony) NB Reckless, burned out about three years ago. I blogged about it here.
We're so sorry to learn of the fate of the Phylis May. Especially since we feel so grateful to Terry, Monica and Jim. Reading about their hilarious adventures has really cheered my husband during his recent illness. Having lived in America for many years, we can testify that his comments about life along the east coast waterway are spot on. Indeed, "Their Gods are not our Gods".
Sincerely,
Margaret
Posted by: Margaret Long | Sunday, 07 August 2011 at 08:44 PM