15
Folkboat Week Founder Robin Walters
Photo courtesy of Bob Aylott - My Classic Boat
Robin initiated ‘Folkboat UK’ in 1984 with
Peter Nuding to facilitate importation of
fibreglass Nordic Folkboats and they
imported Strider, Cidron and Larkspur
that year and Columbine the following
year. The name of Robin’s own FB,
Cidron, is formed from the letters Nordic
in reverse!
As South Coast Area Chairman, Robin
ran Folkboat Week for almost 50 years
and worked closely with Bernard Turner
for over 30 years planning and running it
together. Although passionate about one
design Nordic racing he always had a
soft spot for the British Cruiser Classics
and would include them in every event.
To increase the fleet, Robin kept an
eye out for any abandoned boats and
we remember his excitement finding an
old wooden wreck near the Elephant
boatyard which he restored, fitting a
fibreglass deck, naming her ‘White
Elephant’
Robin was a successful business man
heading Walcon Marine. You will see
his pontoons in Marinas around the
world and every year they form the
Southampton Boat Show.
He introduced ‘The Walcon Cup’, a team
racing event, and invited his contacts
from around the world to take part.
Participants included Eric Andreasen,
the Danish Folkboat builder and even a
‘United Arab Emirates’ team. He towed
pontoons to Bouldnor Bay, anchored
and rafted them, provided a bar, heads
and seating for comfortable viewing. I
was the bar maid at that event! Eric, of
course, won and still holds the Trophy.
Although Robin has been ill for many
years, it was wonderful to see him attend
the 50th celebrations of Folkboat Week
at Yarmouth in 2015, where he sailed
Cidron with Pauline and John Tufnell.
After a cracking start in one of the races,
they went hard aground and Pauline
bravely jumped overboard to try and
push Cidron off.
At the celebration dinner, a 50th
Anniversary plaque was unveiled in his
honour at the RSYC.
We not only remember Robin’s passion,
his vibrant personality, his warmth but
also his shaggy dog stories and parrot
jokes, which I couldn’t possible repeat.
They invariably went wrong, causing
great hilarity.
Robin - Mr Folkboat - Walters, we will
always remember you with affection and
gratitude for everything you have done
for the Folkboat and Folkboat Week.
Christine Hartley Webster
