ABOUT

Grandad Wilfred arrived in Dartmouth from Salcombe in 1921 as a salvage and demolition diver to break up the wreck of the Broadmayne, a 3000 ton Oil Tanker which had foundered on rocks near the mouth of the harbour. He subsequently continued to work on the River Dart raising his family, Wyn, Jim and my father John.

When my father was growing up, he used to pump the air down to Grandad’s Standard diving suit (the old lead boots and brass helmet affair).

During World War 2 my father served as 2nd mate on the local fresh water ‘VIC’ barge (a small steam ship similar to a Clyde Puffer) and after 6 months became skipper.

Following the war and his 2 years National Service with the Royal Engineers, some of which was out in Palestine, he returned to the River making a living fishing and the supply of fresh water to yachts in the harbour.

My father formed a partnership with his Brother Jim and local shipwright Jack Bell (establishing Distin and Bell).

Distin and Bell offered a complete range of boat services from their various workshops in the town (some of which are highly desirable riverside properties now!) They also owned The Bosun’s Locker, a ships chandlery that Wyn, and later my mother, operated in Bayards Cove for nearly 50 years.

In 1951 they purchased a piece of land in Old Mill Creek from the Mayor/Local builder where they set about breaking, dismantling and burning Ex Naval Motor Launches (112ft ML’s), 22 in total, for their metal (non ferrous) fittings and fastenings.

This occupation provided a lucrative source of income during the stormy winter months for both themselves and several other local boatmen.

Jim left the partnership during the 50s to concentrate on fishing.

With the change in economic climate boating became more accessible to the masses, leading to a need for more moorings on the River.

Back then you simply asked the Harbour Commission and were told to go and see Distin and Bell who would provide and lay the necessary equipment in your preferred location ! 

They also laid a large proportion of the moorings for the Harbour Commission.

With their ex Brixham trawler and large bow roller, they worked alongside utility providers S.W.E.B., B.T. and South West Water, laying cables and pipes out into and across various places up and down the River Dart.

Other services that were offered included 2nd Pilot for the Baltic ships to Totnes timber yard, boat repairs, pleasure boats trips and self drive boat hire in the summer.

They also provided support vessels for film companies, including the ‘Onedin Line’ and ‘The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea’.

As the partnership began to dissolve around 1985 and with both of them nearing retirement age they concentrated on their preferred roles, Jack with his exceptional woodworking skills and my father continued the mooring work which he began to share with me as well as taking the helm of the Panurgic, a 100 ton dredger used on behalf of Philip & Son.

When I (Dave) left the lower car ferry I joined my father as crane driver/deckhand as well as continuing the maintenance of our own and privately held moorings which I fully took over in 1998.

It was around this time that I bought Jack’s share of the property in Old Mill Creek and began clearing the site and set to work introducing modern utilities and infrastructure for the future of the yard, culminating in the hardstanding and covered storage facility today.

In 2024 I was granted planning permission for a managers/security bungalow which is nearing completion and which should now allow further sensitive modernisation of the yard facilities in this area of outstanding natural beauty.