Dr Irving Finkel PhD is the assistant keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian script, languages and cultures in the Department of the Middle East at the British Museum, where is the curator of the world’s largest collection of cuneiform clay tablets. He is the author of the much acclaimed book "The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood."
On 16th December 2013, one of the greatest coraclemen of his generation died. Raymond’s family have, for over two hundred years, practised the art and skill of making coracles and using them on the river Tywi with consummate skill. This fact was recognised by the granting of an MBE to Raymond by the Queen in 2011 for his services to the coracle heritage and inshore fishing in Wales, which replicates many years earlier that of a BEM to his grandfather for similar services.
It is with great sadness that The Coracle Society announces the passing of Raymond Rees MBE, aged 79. Our thoughts are with his son and daughter-in-law, Malcolm and Julie, and the rest of the Rees family at this time.
Raymond was one of his generation's most well known coraclemakers, playing a key part in preserving coracle heritage in Wales. He was awarded an MBE for services to coracle heritage in 2011.
Having just completed the build and launch of our currach, we attended a heritage skills seminar in Durham and were introduced to Dr. Keith Bartlett, director of the Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition, which was to be open for three months during the summer of 2013 at Palace Green next to Durham cathedral.
Dave Purvis and Ian Welford were filmed by WoodlandsTV at the 2013 Wild About Wood event talking about how coracles are made, how you get about in them and more. You can view the film below
Can't see this video? Watch on YouTube
Following on from two recent coracle builds by Dave Purvis and Chris Morgan, Barney O’Kane and his colleagues at the Down to Earth Project in Swansea, which caters for pupils with special needs and learning difficulties, decided it would be appropriate if they added two traditional Welsh coracles to their ever growing collection, for use on their many river expeditions during the year.
For the first time, the Coracle Society was invited to organise a coracle build during the annual Islay Festival of the Sea during the weekend of 3rd-4th August 2013.
The appeal was launched over a year ago in an effort to raise £5000 to be used as matched funding for a Heritage Lottery bid, which would be used to rescue two iconic coraclemakers workshops before they deteriorated and disappeared into oblivion - namely those of the late Eustace Rogers at Ironbridge, and the late John Christmas Thomas in Cenarth, the home of the National Coracle Centre.
Unlike last year we had sunshine and a bit of wind. The lavender ice cream man was back, as well as the regulars from the River Stour Trust who run and organise the event. We had a good selection of different craft on show. There was Dick's Teifi replica with ally lathes and green tarpaulin cover and also his new one, which is a Towy replica, using more traditional construction.
The Carmathen Coracle and Netsmens Association were delighted to welcome Society members Brian and Jane Pearce to the River Towy. Joe Woodhead won the Novice trophy, donated to the Camarthen River Festival by the Society.
Article below by Carmarthen Journal
The annual event on the quayside was this year run by Carmarthen Boat Club, Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers and Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen Association.
BBC News recently posted in their Magazine a video about coracles, net fishing and handing the tradition down through the family, featuring Raymond and Malcolm Rees.
This video can be viewed on the BBC News Magazine website by clicking here