ChesterBoat, managing director, Brian Clarke, celebrates his 40th year working on the River Dee. From his humble beginnings as a boat skipper in 1979 to buying the business in 2003 and adventures along the way.
Boat Services have been in operation on the River Dee since the Romans came to Chester and built the foundations of the city we know today, but Brian started his career in 1979 as a boat skipper. The first employee of previous owner of Bithell Boats, Robert Adamson. Brian was instrumental in assisting Robert in turning around the failing boat business which had been purchased from property developers Pochin. Their interest was in the development of The Groves and the river side.
As boat skipper, Brian worked on much smaller boats of a wood construction which require regular maintenance. The Prince Charles, The May Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Anne, and The Raglan formed the wooden fleet. It was two years later that the first modern steel passenger boat was introduced to the fleet - The Lady Diana - a much larger more comfortable enclosed and heated boat with a bar giving an opportunity to host evening charters and party nights. The pride of the fleet, The Lady Diana, was a major step change for Bithell Boats enabling the crew to offer a year-round service.
The Lady Diana has remained the flagship and soon had more boats added to the fleet including The Mark Twain, brought up from the River Thames, and remodelled at Birkenhead's famous shipping yards under the direct supervision and direction of managing direct Brian Clarke.
Brian Clarke's hard work, vision and tenacity paid off as he was offered shares in the business in 1989 and then bought the business outright in 2003. 'It was a great opportunity for me to realise my vision for the leisure trips on the Dee.' Brian commented.
Never one to stand still, Brian spotted an opportunity in York to undertake a new venture. He took the last of Chester's wooden fleet, The Prince Charles, and build the business before eventually acquiring the main boat operator. This enabled The Jackie, another steel passenger boat, to be brought from York and added to the fleet in Chester. 'It was fun in York' Brian said 'but my heart lies in Chester, it is where I started out and where I live. I love Chester and particularly the River, so selling the York business was inevitable and selling to UK City Cruises in their first venture outside of London was a good move for both businesses.'
Brian also developed the passenger boat business at Shrewsbury, building the business before selling to a local who continues to operate the service to this day.
Brian is no stranger to adventure, having motored his private 45ft motor cruiser from Chester over the River Dee's weir and out to sea to France and onto Gibraltar; later from Spain through the French canals to Paris before returning to Chester.
Back in Chester, Brian has developed the commercial services side of the business, providing safety boats, tugs and cranes nationally, to move boats and provide access to the water for construction companies including the amphibious rescue service for the Mersey Gateway Bridge and more recently to transport the Liverpool Giants across the Mersey.
ChesterBoat and its three leisure cruise boats operate throughout the year enjoying an estimated 100,000 passengers per year from all over the world.