Published 26 July 2001

Canoe trek
SELLINDGE widow Mrs Gladys Shepherd, 80 and her daughter Mrs Margaret Pedder, of Burmarsh, have been telling me the remarkable story of two local businessmen who sailed or paddled a canoe by sea, canal and stream from Folkestone to Ramsgate - via Dungeness, Willesborough, Canterbury, Sandwich and Richborough.

They then made their way back along the coast to Folkestone to complete a trek of 120 miles! That was 80 years ago this year — in 1921.

After rounding Dungeness Point the pair headed towards the mouth of the River Rother bound for Iden to pick up the Royal Military Canal which they negotiated as far as Hamstreet.

It was then a case of road portage by 'motor ferry' to Willesborough to pick up the River Stour and head for Sandwich and Port Richborough.

The two men who made that trip with a difference, were skipper William 'Bill' Dunk, once a prominent Folkestone builder, and, serving as crew, Mrs Shepherd's father-in-law, Herbert
Edmund Shepherd. He was the father of her late husband, Derek Shepherd, and for many years ran the business of Simmonds, the jewellers at 80 Sandgate Road.

The two men in a boat - a sailing canoe - took five days to complete their journey, covering an average of 24 miles a day. Early on they hit fog, but got a tow from a friendly motor boat owner, and later tackled water courses reduced to a trickle of water or choked with weed and debris.

At night they camped in a tent.

Herbert Shepherd kept a photographic diary record of the trip which has only recently come to light, his grand-daughter told me.

The trek began from Folkestone beach at 5.30am on May 13 1921. Soon they met fog, and had to hug the coastline and take soundings with a pole, reaching Dungeness at 9am.

Fog continued to hamper the entrepid travellers and their escort and they missed Rye harbour entrance, ending up at Winchelsea.

The canoeists had to hire a fish cart to get the canoe to the River Rother at Rye. The first night they stopped at Iden Lock, near the popular Star Inn, and rigged their tent in an adjoining orchard for a three-day stop for excursions.

Gladys and her late husband Derek also made a canoe trip on Hythe Royal Military Canal, back in 1952, inspite of the fact that Mrs Shepherd has worn an artificial leg since her 20s. They went from Hythe to Appledore for lunch and then back again.

Changing from river to canal at Iden Lock the 'sailors continued their journey, heading for Appledore and Hamstreet working hard en route clearing shallow waterways of thick weed which impeded them. In places they towed the canoe.

The services of a lorry were engaged for a short road trip to Willesborough Bridge to pick up the River Stour. This was not supposed to be navigable over the 10 mile leg to Chilham.
It was shallow and choked with string-like weed 10ft long, but there was a strong current.

Because it was such hard work they lightened their load, sending some camping gear back to Iden Lock and pushed on to Wye Mill. In places it was so shallow they waded, carrying the canoe!

Beyond picturesque Olantigh Towers they came to a weir, with stone steps heavily coated with weed and slime, which was a major hazard. Next obstacles were bridges at Godmersham Park where the river entered land grazed by cattle and a fine herd of deer - kept from escaping by gates or grids under the bridges.

Plum Pudding Bridge

After pacifying a surprised land agent they were warned of a fallen tree blocking their route but managed to negotiate this and some barbed wire further on. Next they came to the beauty spot of Chilham Mill where they disembarked for a break, leaving the canoe in charge of the miller.

Then, after carrying the canoe across a meadow, they came to the first of two Chartham mills where again they met choked water courses, leading to more wading to the main stream where there was another setback due to stumps and boulders. In fact they had to engage a man with a truck to transport the canoe and gear to
ABOVE: Herbert Shepherd, left and Bill Dunk in their Iden Lock lair. LEFT: Sailing their canoe on Hythe canal en route from Rye.

FAR LEFT: The ancient watermill at Wye, where the sailors carried their lightened craft over gardens to change water courses in their adventure 80 years ago.

Plum Pudding Bridge about a mile further on.

They then got afloat again but were temporarily held up by wires stretched across the river.

And there, sadly, the photo album narrative comes to a disappointing and unexplained end.

Herbert Shepherd served a seven year apprenticeship as a jeweller, starting back in 1893, and at first earned only a shilling (5p) a week. This rose eventually to seven shillings (35p) a week, which is hard to credit today!

In 1924 Herbert, together with Gordon Farrer, who was in business in Rendezvous Street, took over the business of A.B. Simmonds, the jewellers, at 80 Sandgate Road, for whom Herbert had been working since 1901 — most of the time as manager. But by the Second World War Herbert had become sole proprietor.

A Keen sportsman, Herbert was Folkestone Rotary Club president in 1942-3, helped found Hythe Rotary Club and, at one time, was chairman of Governors of the Girls' Grammar School and chairman of the Folkestone branch of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men. A good swimmer he was a handicapper and starter for competitive events organised by Folkestone Swimming Club in the twenties.

When Herbert died in 1955 aged 75, his son Derek Shepherd took over the business.
 

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