In the 2009 Journal, Alan Grove wrote: “It is quite extraordinary that two sheds, used as coracle making workshops by two ‘famous’ coraclemen, should have a question mark hanging over their future existence at precisely the same time. They are namely that of John Christmas Thomas (‘Jack’ Thomas, 1904-1976) of Cenarth and the Rogers family workshop at Ironbridge, Shropshire, last used by the late Eustace Rogers (1915-2003).”

"I've been interested in coracles since I can remember, in fact I built one in the early seventies with a view to going down the Thames, but my expedition partner pulled out and that was that for about 35 years. However last year I attended a coracle building course with the Nautical Archaeology Society at the Cranbourne Ancient Technology Centre and built my own Bronze age style boat, very similar to my own design from years ago.

It has been over 50 years since I explored the backwaters and backwoods of Norway as a young man, spending two successive holidays there with a crowd of friends from Teesside. I was delighted therefore to receive an invitation from woodsmith Maurice Pyle, who runs a green wood workshop and training school in the old Flint Mill at Beamish Museum.

Possibly for the first time ever the coracle was introduced onto the river Mawddach over the weekend of May 21st - 22nd 2011