Braunston Marina MD meets the Princess Royal
By: Janet Richardson
TIM Coghlan MD of Northamptonshire based Braunston Marina was one of a select number of senior members of The Yacht Harbour Association to be introduced to Priness Anne, when she called at the Association’s stand, during her visit to the recent London Boat Show,
The Yacht Harbour Association is the trade association of coastal and inland waterways marina operators. Tim Coghlan was until 2011 a member of its Council for fourteen years, and for five of those years, its vice-chairman, with responsibilities for inland waterways marinas.
Tim Coghlan MD of Braunston Marina talking to Princess Anne at the London Boat Show. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Tim Coghlan said: "This was my first immediate encounter with Royalty, so it was a great honour for me. I had often heard how well the Royals are briefed, but I was still astonished when after I had been introduced to her, Princess Anne immediately commented to me that the inland waterways were showing the best growth of any sector in the British Marine Trade.
"I had the pleasure of telling her how good the inland waterways are for Britain – the boats are largely built here, and the boaters - owners or hirers - stay in the UK for their holidays. Also importantly the inland waterways attract a number of overseas customers, not only as boat hirers, but increasingly buying and keeping boats here. We have moorers at Braunston Marina who live in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the USA, as well as continental Europe. Princess Anne was most interested in what I had to say."
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