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  1. #1
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    Any memories of Bill Shakespeares Avon Special's

    Hi all, thanks for allowing me to join. Hopefully this is the correct Forum now

    Possibly you may have seen or heard of this boat ?

    I have at last got Bill Shakespeare's 1962 Avon Special speedboat into my workshop to start her restoration.

    The boat was purchased many..many years ago after going to have a look at a small outboard motor that was being sold. The outboard was scrap.. but sticking out of the undergrowth in the back garden, I spotted the front of a stunning old wooden speedboat sat there slowly being overtaken by nature.

    I asked about it and found that the area was due to be cleared and the boat smashed up and burnt, a deal was quickly done and two days later it was on my trailer heading for safety... To cut a long story short after almost 30 years the restoration will at last start..

    I have a lot of information that has been gathered over the years, but if anyone can fill me in with stories, information or photo's relating to Bill Shakespeare and memories of racing it would be appreciated. Cheers
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails bbtrials1962.jpg  

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  3. #2
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    The man you need to speak to is Dave Burgess, he was. " Shakey"s Boatbuilder at the time.
    Jeremy James was his close friend And ally, usually ran the twin of the current boat.
    Rex Mann was another customer of his.
    Main antagonist of Shakey was John Merryfield------there was some heated rivalry between the two.
    Arthur Brown ran an Avon Special for a season before he was badly injured at the 24hours race in Evian. My mechanic Chas Shooter loved his Avon special and ran it at southport for years. He resided in Ilkeston Derby and was a hoarder of all things (particularly boats)
    I can recall at least a dozen Avons and their owners------would be nice to have some provenance on this particular craft.

  4. #3
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    Hi Jackie, an honour to chat with you.

    I have read a lot about you over the years researching this boat.

    This was actually pre Dave Burgess and was built by Bill and Roger Cull, as it was the original Avon Special.

    I was fortunate enough to have a visit from Roger a few days ago, who described the building and testing that went into the "cobbly bottom", and also explained how each piece was shaped using a chisel by hand, it really is a work of art.

    The boat is also in Bills book "Powerboat Racing", so I have a huge amount of provenance, in fact I didn't even know what she was when first purchased, it was only after being told "your boat is in a book", that I found out exactly what I had saved from the bonfire .. Steve fox ( Son of Trevor Fox - "Mon Amie ") was kind enough to send me some photo's of the boat which I will attach and also gave me a photo of the boat after Bill had cut 3 inches off the nose to comply with regs at Rabodanges after french scrutineers tried to exclude him. The boat originally had a normal hull, the cobbly bottom was added in either 62 or 63 in the search for more speed and was apparently sli- pped into the water with a tarp covering it on it's first outing. There is also a facebook page " Bill Shakespeare Water speed record breaker Tewkesbury" with a lot of magazine articles and photo's . I am also trying to locate Keith Matty, who was one of Bills mechanics in the River Seine 6 hours. https://www.facebook.com/groups/254216544641617/

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  6. #4
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    A few photo's

    Here are a few pics of the boat if it rings any bells with anyone... or just for interest
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails shakespeare with trophys 001.jpg   shakespeare 1962 fairford 001.jpg   Shakespeare Special 1.jpg   Shakespeare Special 1cobbly bottom.jpg   21269534_10210219348456382_697197535_n.jpg  


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  8. #5
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    I knew Dave started for Shakey when he was just a kid, thought he might been able to supply you with some information.
    He was always full of innovative ideas, some worked, some didn't.
    One of the best looking boats I ever saw was his little EU that he built for Dave Minty---- later owned by Chas Shooter !
    I remember after the ('62 ?). Paris race which he had just won, Carl Kiekheafer asked him how he liked the engine---------Shakey told him it was good --------Mr K said it's yours!

  9. #6
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    [QUOTE=jackiewilson;2987553]I knew Dave started for Shakey when he was just a kid, thought he might been able to supply you with some information.
    He was always full of innovative ideas, some worked, some didn't.

    I was lucky enough to meet Dave Burgess many years ago while having a cup of tea & chatting with John Hill over in Cheltenham. It would be good to chat with Dave as I am also trying to work out how many Avons were made.

    I know of "Mon Amie" and "Scarlett Pimpernell" which were early both Avon Specials. The mk1 was replaced in 65 which a more modern design trying to keep on the heels of Sonni Levi , and again a mk3 was built in 67. Sadly I have never been able to trace these boats, I think the only reason that this one survived was that Bill had it put up in the top of his building yard, where it stayed until his death in 1971. I will attach a photo of a young Dave Burgess in the loft of Skakespeare Marine. Thanks again for your help.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails DaveBurgessCat.jpg  

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