A Knight’s Tale (108: Instow Part 2)

It was probably in August 1998 that Jessica bought a secondhand outboard motor in Newark and used for one day in Instow in Devon. She left her recently acquired dinghy in the bay facing our holiday house. In the morning the motor was gone. As was every other similar item from other boats. This was apparently the first time such a theft had ever occurred at that location.

It was that year, the one after my then wife had received her diagnosis of multiple myeloma, that she paddled on Instow beach with Emily.

The following year was the one of the beach fortress.

Building sandcastle 8.99001

Sam, Louisa, James, Gemma, Lucy, and Nick start on a pile of sand on the beautiful beach of Instow, where boats ply the channel between this and the former fishing village of Appledore,

Building sandcastle 8.99002

and Canon Henry Pearson leans against a moored boat surveying the scene.

Building sandcastle 8.99003
Building sandcastle 8.99004

At this early stage it is possible for passers-by, like this mother pushing a pram, to be unaware of what is happening.

Building sandcastle 8.99005
Building sandcastle 8.99007

Gradually, however, the young of Instow gather round.

Building sandcastle 8.99009

Louisa and Lucy smooth the surfaces,

Building sandcastle 8.99010

and Lucy employs the services of a little local helper.

Building sandcastle 8.99011

Bigger lads look on.

Building sandcastle 8.99012

Jim shares a joke with Lucy, whose assistant has wandered off

Building sandcastle 8.99013

to see if Louisa has any requirements, whilst his sister examines the footings.

Building sandcastle 8.99015
Building sandcastle 8.99014

Sometimes it’s not exactly clear who is in charge.

Building sandcastle 8.99016
Building sandcastle 8.99018

By the time the sun begins to sink below the horizon, the crew are able to position the flambeaus, and delight in their creation.

Building sandcastle 8.99019

Jessica and Judith prepare refreshments, evening wear is donned,

Building sandcastle 8.99020
Building sandcastle 8.99022

and the village begins to assemble.

Building sandcastle 8.99021

Jessica sports her trademark Monsoon skirt.

Building sandcastle 8.99017

‘David Robert Shepherd MBE (27 December 1940 – 27 October 2009)[1] was a first-class cricketer who played county cricket for Gloucestershire, and later became one of the cricket world’s best-known umpires. He stood in 92 Test matches, the last of them in June 2005, the most for any English umpire. He also umpired 172 ODIs [One Day Internationals], including three consecutive World Cup, finals in 1996, 1999 and 2003′ (Wikipedia).

He has observed the proceedings from very early on.

Building sandcastle 8.99023

As night closes in, the torches are lit, and the crowd dwindles away,

Building sandcastle 8.99025

eventually leaving the field to three proud mothers: from left to right, Ali, of James; Jessica, of Sam and Louisa; and Judith, of Lucy and Nick.

The Beach Fortress: The Definitive Illustrated Edition

Anyone caring to scroll down the comments on ‘And What Came Next?’ will be able to see several suggestions for the ending of the story. On Facebook, Becky has offered ‘The fly said ” Your wings are MASSIVE!” and the butterfly replied “How rude! You smell of poo. Shoo Fly!” And the fly buzzed off to find a nice cow-pat for his tea.’ And Sara Head: . ‘And jumped back in shock! “You’re real” each exclaimed, “I thought you were my reflection.”‘ Two rather good ones, I thought, but each a little more inventive than those of the two small grandchildren: Emily: ‘And they got married’. Oliver: ‘And the butterfly ate the fly’. Neither of my daughters is at all demanding. Therefore, when Becky put in a plea for seeing The Beach Fortress in the process of construction, it has been my pleasure to comply. Not being able to lay my hands on the negatives from August 1999, today I scanned a mere selection from the printed record. Here it is: Building sandcastle 8.99001

Sam, Louisa, James, Gemma, Lucy, and Nick start on a pile of sand on the beautiful beach of Instow, whist boats ply the channel between this and the former fishing village of Appledore,

Building sandcastle 8.99002

and Canon Henry Pearson leans against a moored boat surveying the scene.

Building sandcastle 8.99003Building sandcastle 8.99004

At this early stage it is possible for passers-by, like this mother pushing a pram, to be unaware of what is happening.

Building sandcastle 8.99005Building sandcastle 8.99007

Gradually, however, the young of Instow gather round.

Building sandcastle 8.99009

Louisa and Lucy smooth the surfaces,

Building sandcastle 8.99010

and Lucy employs the services of a little local helper.

Building sandcastle 8.99011

Bigger lads look on.

Building sandcastle 8.99012

Jim shares a joke with Lucy, whose assistant has wandered off

Building sandcastle 8.99013

to see if Louisa has any requirements, whilst his sister examines the footings.

Building sandcastle 8.99015

Building sandcastle 8.99014

Sometimes it’s not exactly clear who is in charge.

Building sandcastle 8.99016

Building sandcastle 8.99018

By the time the sun begins to sink below the horizon, the crew are able to position the flambeaus, and delight in their creation.

Building sandcastle 8.99019

Jessica and Judith prepare refreshments, evening wear is donned,

Building sandcastle 8.99020

Building sandcastle 8.99022

and the village begins to assemble.

Building sandcastle 8.99021

Jessica sports her trademark Monsoon skirt.

Building sandcastle 8.99017

‘David Robert Shepherd MBE (27 December 1940 – 27 October 2009)[1] was a first-class cricketer who played county cricket for Gloucestershire, and later became one of the cricket world’s best-known umpires. He stood in 92 Test matches, the last of them in June 2005, the most for any English umpire. He also umpired 172 ODIs [One Day Internationals], including three consecutive World Cup, finals in 1996, 1999 and 2003′ (Wikipedia).

He has observed the proceedings from very early on.

Building sandcastle 8.99023

As night closes in, the torches are lit, and the crowd dwindles away,

Building sandcastle 8.99025

eventually leaving the field to three proud mothers: from left to right, Ali, of James; Jessica, of Sam and Louisa; and Judith, of Lucy and Nick.

Anyone clicking on these images for enlargement will notice that I haven’t done any retouching. After all, there is only so much one can do in a day. Not that anyone would believe that, seeing what this lot achieved.

Fast forward to this evening, when Jackie and I dined on her potent spaghetti arrabiata, followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard. She drank Hoegaarten and I drank Louis de Camponac cabernet sauvignon 2014.