If you are familiar with Fox’s Marina & Boatyard you more than certainly have met our Services Manager Ralph Catchpole whom this weekend celebrates an astonishing achievement of 50 years of service at Fox’s. This translates to a jaw-dropping, approximate total of 132,000 working hours! There can’t be many people in the world who can make claim to that longevity and dedication of service.
On 18th September 1972, Ralph started work at CH Fox and Sons (now Fox’s Marina & Boatyard) aged just 15 and with a salary of £8 per week (20p an hour). With a general title of “boy” or “gofer”, Ralph got involved with boat building straight away as the yard was busy building four Fox 31 cold moulded cruising yachts.
As Ralphs experience grew his career progressed with promotion to Supervisor, then Workshop Manager in 1981 when the boat yard moved from Whersead Road to its current site. Large projects during this time included building the Cirdan Sailing Trust vessel Faramir and well-known race boats Odd Job, Santa Evita and Tumble Home.
Now Services Manager, Ralph still absolutely loves his job and admits he can’t wait to get to work in the mornings. When asked if he thought he’d last 50 years at Fox’s he replied “absolutely!”. He’s a people person and enjoys meeting and building relationships with clients. With many repeat customers, he now finds himself dealing with their children and even grandchildren.
Ralph’s fondest memories of Fox’s are from the days of exhibiting at the Earls Court Boat show and his most memorable moment is the Great Storm of 1987, when boats were breaking off their moorings and two were blown right off their cradles. Gale damage resulted in 101 estimate requests in the three weeks that followed!
Ralph is showing no signs of slowing down and intends to make plenty more memories at Fox’s. This leaves us to say huge congratulations on achieving this mammoth anniversary. We truly appreciate your dedication and humour and for playing such a big part in what makes Fox’s the company it is today.
