Bending steel frames | Photo: Pat Walsh
Boat steel frame | Photo: Pat Walsh
Dunkirk 'Little Ships' being repaired, 1980s | Photo: Jono Shankster
Havengore, 1980s | Photo: Chris Shankster
Pat Walsh doing civil engineering work | Photo: Pat Walsh
Tough's Boatyard | Photo: Pat Walsh
Tough's Yard, 1980s | Photo: Jono Shankster
Tough's Boatyard
Bending steel frames | Photo: Pat Walsh
Boat steel frame | Photo: Pat Walsh
Dunkirk 'Little Ships' being repaired, 1980s | Photo: Jono Shankster
Havengore, 1980s | Photo: Chris Shankster
Pat Walsh doing civil engineering work | Photo: Pat Walsh
Tough's Boatyard | Photo: Pat Walsh
Tough's Yard, 1980s | Photo: Jono Shankster
Tough's Boatyard

From the 1960s, Pat Walsh worked at Tough's as a boat builder. He was also a key part of the civil engineering side of the Tough’s business, and established his own civil engineering and towage company on the river. In the 1980s he was part of the team who built one of Tough’s last boats, a 150 foot yacht called Brave Goose, for Sir Donald Gosling. Two young brothers, Chris and Jono Shankster worked at Tough’s at that time and worked on Brave Goose. The yacht was launched in April 1986, and was brought downstream under Richmond Bridge, where it was famously caught by the tide. By the 1990s the boatyard was in decline, with Bob Tough eventually retiring in 2006, and the yard has recently been redeveloped into offices and apartments.

Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Brave Goose II Launch invitation, 1986 | Photo: Pat Walsh
Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Construction work | Photo: Jono Shankster
Filling and painting Brave Goose | Photo: Jono Shankster
‘F-troop’ fitting the propellers of Brave Goose | Photo: Jono Shankster
In construction | Photo: Jono Shankster
Ready to launch | Photo: Jono Shankster
Richmond Bridge | Photo: Pat Walsh

Building Brave Goose II at Tough's Boatyard

Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Brave Goose II Launch invitation, 1986 | Photo: Pat Walsh
Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Hull and engine beds | Photo: Pat Walsh
Construction work | Photo: Jono Shankster
Filling and painting Brave Goose | Photo: Jono Shankster
‘F-troop’ fitting the propellers of Brave Goose | Photo: Jono Shankster
In construction | Photo: Jono Shankster
Ready to launch | Photo: Jono Shankster
Richmond Bridge | Photo: Pat Walsh

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