A local boat owner whose 1960s boat was destroyed by a fire earlier this month is appealing for anyone with information on the incident to contact him.

The boat, Puffin, was taken from its mooring between Eel Pie Island and Radnor Gardens in Twickenham on the morning of Tuesday August 3, between 4am and 6.30am.

The London Fire Brigade arrived shortly after 7am, and the fire was put out by 8.30am.

At first its owner thought there had been an electrical fire, however eyewitness kayakers from Richmond Canoe Club who had been out early on the river that morning say they saw the boat being driven up and down the river before it was set alight.

The kayakers reported seeing the boat driving aimlessly and said it stuck out as unusual. If there are any boats they are usually going in one direction close to high tide when Richmond lock is open.

The vandals tied it back onto the resident's pontoon before setting the boat on fire and leaving.

Eyewitnesses say they left in a plastic kayak. The boat was not properly attached to the pontoon when fire crews arrived.

The wreck was salvaged later that day by expert local marine contractor Pat Walsh Ltd.

advertisement

If you think you saw the boat that morning contact [email protected]

Details of the boat

Puffin was a traditional British-build wooden boat built in 1962.

It had been well maintained and was in unusually good condition for its age.

It was built by Fox's Marine Ipswich with a Mahogany on Oak Frame, originally as an open launch.

The cockpit and the rear canopy were added later.

The boat spent most of its life in West Mersey and the Norfolk Broads and has been in Twickenham for the past four years, arriving in Spring 2017.

If you think you saw the boat that morning contact [email protected]