Sixteen-year-old Brian Ashley

son of Mr and Mrs L A Ashley, of 12 Potacre Street, Torrington, and three friends set off on a trip on the Torridge near Halfpenny Bridge, Weare Giffard, in a 10-foot rowing outboard boat which Brian himself designed and built.

Behind the launching of the Blue Tarka, as the boat is called, there is a story of hard work and some adventure.

Early in January, when he launched his boat and started, the maiden voyage at a stretch of water near St Giles, he had a mishap, accidently putting his foot through the bottom of the craft, but he soon had her repaired.

The picture shows Brian and his friends Peter Hitchings, Sylvia Ashley and Wendy Smaldon setting off for a trip.

Article dated 25 May 1956