News

We will be completing our first build with the Shrewsbury Branch of the UK Men's Shed Association on 26th and 27th June, located at the Shropshire Agricultural Showground on Gravel lane in Shrewsbury, which is adjacent to the River Severn.

In an effort to preserve the 10,000 year old gentle art of coracle making and sailing, The Coracle Society is commencing a new project with the UK Men's Shed Association to preserve this historical craft from oblivion for future generations to enjoy.

Charles and Maggie, a couple of Architects from Oxford, recently tried their hands at coracle making on a course at The Gorfanc Hideaway in March 2024. Maggie Forrester grew up in Shropshire and remembers the man on the river, Fred Davies “The Coracle Man”, and her local pub “The Coracle” where many a pint was had. So when she came across a leaflet advertising coracle making at Gorfanc in Wales the opportunity was too great to miss out on.

My brother Dave Nicoll who was a member probably from 1996 when he built his first coracle on a Terry Kenny’s course on the weekend of the Ironbridge regatta of that year, died on Saturday 20th April after a short illness aged 85

The funeral is on 16th May at the Sudbury Crematorium at 1pm it is being streamed (please contact Euan Raffel for details). Donations to Alzheimer’s Society. And colourful clothes would be preferred.

We are working with the UK Men's Shed Association to introduce Sheds to coraclemaking, in order to increase the volume of coracles being built and used, and hopefully secure the future of coraclemaking in the UK, which is under threat as listed in the Heritage Crafts Association's Red List of Endangered Crafts.

A reminder to members that you can purchase quality Society-branded apparel at very affordable prices, to show your support for us when attending events

For more information, please visit the Membership Benefits - Clothing page

Late in 2023 we were contacted by Finley, a school student in the south east of England. His school encourages students in Year 9 to undertake projects over a long period of time to explore something they have an interest or passion in, in depth.

Peter Faulkner-built, hide covered Boyne coracle for sale. In very good condition. Buyer collects from Oxford area. £400

For more information please contact Euan Raffel

Martin Fowler

When Major David Goddard retired from the British Army, he travelled to many parts of the world collecting water craft and founded the Exeter Maritime Museum which opened in 1969 and ran until 1997.

In 1991 he arrived at the National Coracle Centre here in Cenarth on our official opening day and donated the guffa from Iraq, and this coracle from Vietnam - which he had brought back from Hong Kong.

Carmarthen Coracle Netsmen's Association have been working with local story-teller Andy Edwards to record and capture their 'Stories from the River'.

During the lockdown, there must have been a few twitchy coraclers when August Bank Holiday Monday came around. So when the annual Ironbridge Coracle Regatta returned last year, there was a sense of things getting back to normal. Like Christmas Day, it's a fixed date in the calendar.

This year, the Society made donations to our two netsmen's associations - the Teifi Coracle Netsmen Association and Camarthen Coracle & Netsman's Association. The aim of these donations was to provide support against the recently increased net licence fees, which along with recent changes to fishing regulations in Wales are creating deep concern over the future of this important tradition.