GETTING AWAY WITH IT

Part two of Tom Kitching’s affectionate look at Spey’s history

In the late 1930s, a new trade was established for Thomas Clayton of Oldbury, transporting heavy oils from Stanlow to the Black Country. Between 1937 and 1939, 8 motorboats were built at Uxbridge, Spey and Stour being the first two, completed late 1937.

Few wooden boats were constructed this late, but with oils being such a light cargo, the bottom-heavy nature of the wooden hull gave better stability and was preferred by the crews. Decks had been added to the design some decades previously after Clayton’s tanker had overturned in the Thames with a full load. Spey was a mongrel from the start, made of mismatching knees from boats that had already seen a full life and been scrapped. A cheap build with a 20-year design expectation.

This trade continued until 1955 when Shell made alternative arrangements. During this era, Spey worked with butty Ohio, operated for much of this time by the Jinks family of whom Maureen, their first (adopted) daughter, became a friend towards the end of her life when she lived at Wardle Lock cottage in Middlewich.

She would tell us amazing stories of growing up on Spey before marrying onto another boat at 16.

“We always had to take the washing in as we approached Chester. My dad didn’t think those posh people should catch sight of our knickers.”

Now being operated by the Clowes family, Spey switched to local traffic, transporting gas tar, until that trade too declined. Clayton shrank until the compulsory purchase of their premises for the forthcoming M5 ended trade for good in 1966.