| Geoff
Tobert age 80. |
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| Involved in the
leisure marine industry since the early 1950s long
before boating became a majority past time. Operated a
small boatbuilding chandlery business in West London
before joining British Anzani (marketing) in 1957.
Joined University Marine (British concessionaires for
the OMC Evinrude and Gale outboards) as sales manager
for Gale outboards. 1960 joined Brunswick Corporation
with the responsibility of launching the American built
Owens runabouts and cruisers in the UK and Europe. |
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| Geoff also organised a
programme to produce the Owens runabout range in Britain
to satisfy European demand. It was when Brunswick
decided to move back to their core business in the
mid-1960s and withdraw from boatbuilding that Geoff was
given the task of disposing of the old Owens hull
moulds. |
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| One of his
many retail outlets was a small garage in Christchurch
known as Frairscliffe Autos. Its proprietor, John
Macklin, decided to purchase the mould of the Owens
Sovereign. |
| |
| Producing
this runabout resulted in the business changing its name
from Frairscliffe Autos to Frairscliffe Marine. Various
models of the Sovereign came about and as the business
grew it altered its name yet again to Poole Powerboats
having moved to a small yard in West Quay Road, in
Poole. Three years later in 1970 the growing company
approached Don Shead for the design of a small four
berth cruiser which was built and shown at the 1971
London Boat Show. |
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| The first
customer was a leading French dealer on the Cote de
Azure who feared Poole would be confused in France with
chicken and hence the company name was changed yet again
this time to the present Sunseeker. |
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| Ray
Bulman age 79. |
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|
Ray has been in industrial
journalism for over 50 years ranging from being Chief
Press Officer of Royal Mail plus being a regular marine
motor boating columnist. |
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At the height of his
career he produced features for the British Yachts &
Yachting, Motor Boat & Yachting been powerboat
correspondent of Daily Telegraph since 1970. |
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Produced regular columns
in the USA (Powerboat), the old Soviet Union, (Motor
Boats & Yachts), S. Africa (SA Yachting), Japan (Kazi),
Australia (Powerboat), Spain (Yate & Motonautique) and
Germany (Boote). Most recently was press officer for the
2008 Round Britain powerboat race last June. |
