"The Jolly Wazzer"
The collective effort of several FOTR members, but mostly Warren Claydon, has resulted in the tern rafts being floated and anchored in the Drayton Pound (Wilstone Reservoir).
Two of the HMWT rafts were brought in this spring and renovated. This involved removing what was left of the floats and replacing them with 16 large plastic drums, supplied by Ian Williams. The gravel was cleaned, reused and extra added, clay roof tiles and boulders were positioned to replicate an ancient Shinto Temple garden.
Sounds straight forward enough? Once we had brought the rafts to the shore, we needed to turn them over. This required 9 people and 2 dogs. So thanks again to Ian Williams and his son; Tyler (Warren's mate), Mike Collard, Ian Burrus, Lynne, Colin, Warren and me. Turning them over broke the fences but that was not a problem. Attaching the barrels was, but a solution was found using fixings provided by Mick A'Court and Dave Cox. We then had to turn them over again; once more much muscle was needed. The two rafts were then joined together and the shingle spread, fences were repaired and anchors attached.
Then all we had to do was get them out again! Well in the teeth of a south-westerly we broke a rowlock, so we had to wait for a following wind and a new part. Fortunately, the weather turned to the northwest and Warren could row the 'Jolly Wazzer' out to where it hopefully will remain and be used by our terns this year.
Johne Taylor
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