Percy Blandford, DIY polymath and small boat designer, crosses the bar

Percy Blandford

I have heard that Percy Blandford, the century-old legendary designer of boats and canoes for home building and prolific author on huge range of workshop-related topics passed away today.

Good ol’ Mr Blandford. Among many other things he helped to get the post-War leisure boating and DIY boat building boom going, and got lots of people afloat for the first time. He will be much missed, but deserves a rousing cheer to send him off. I’m raising my glass, as you’d expect.

Our post about him written to celebrate his 100th birthday probably tells the story as well as I can – read it here.