In the beginning…..
Boyd Campbell and Peter Mather met on the Guinness stand at the 1970 Boat Show and fell to discussing Davinka. Boyd wanted to find out about her design and Peter knew of a HB grandson in Wivenhoe - where Ruth and he then lived.
Nicolas Butler was approached by Peter and he suggested that his uncle, Rupert Butler, would probably be the best person to ask and Boyd was informed.
There was then a lapse of time and on 18 May1973 Boyd wrote my brother Rupert who passed him on to me as I have looked after designs and matters pertaining thereto since my father’s death in 1945. Boyd wrote to me on May 31st, 1973 and I replied by telephone and we arranged that he and Desirée should come to my home so that plans and photographs could be consulted. This meeting was fixed for July 3rd and when they came we talked of many things concerning THB and we agreed that it would be a good idea of some sort of association and we agreed that it would be idea. We confirmed that Davinka’s design was a “Bogle”.
Later that summer Boyd and Desirée, in Davinka met Trevor Cheesman in Dindy in Plymouth and again conversation drifted towards THB and an association and they told Trevor about our meeting in July.
Meanwhile things were stirring on the Hamble River, as Ron Goodhand describes: “It was all very slow in starting. For some considerable time, that is, from about 1971, there had been desultory conversations between sometimes two, sometimes three, sometimes five of us, all owners of Harrison Butler designed boats. The five were: myself (the owner of Cruinneag), the late Peter Rosser (Cora A), Trevor Cheeseman (Dindy), Denis Murrin (Minion) and the late Dan Bowen (Romadi). Our boats were all moored in the same locality on the Hamble River and of course we bumped into each other - not physically!
The conception of the Association can be said to have happened aboard 'Cora A' one evening when Peter Rosser, Trevor Cheesman and I were talking of this and that - 'shoes and ships and sealing-wax' - that sort of thing, and, inevitably, the conversation focused onto one subject: some sort of society, club, association - call it what you will - for owners of a boat designed by Doctor T. Harrison Butler: something easy; informal.
'This meeting must have been the "trigger" for both Peter and myself because the next issue of the Yachting monthly, November l973, carried copies of letters from both us to the Editor of that illustrious magazine suggesting a loose confederation of HB owners. (Incidentally, there was no collusion between Peter and me: we both wrote independently and unknown to each other.)
'Whether my letter was more convincing, my address shorter, or, perhaps because I volunteered to act as Hon. Sec. until more specific arrangements could be made I don't know, but, almost immediately, I was swamped with letters from all over the U.K. – later, from all parts of the world – clamouring enthusiastically for a coming together of like souls. For my pains, I was Honorary Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the first nine years and Mary was Honorary Treasurer.'
In the course of conversation, Trevor had mentioned his meeting with Boyd and Desiree in Plymouth and that they had met me on the 12th November l973, Ron wrote to Boyd to ask him to seek my reaction to an invitation to become President, should an association be formed. Accordingly, Boyd wrote to me on November 16th to ask me to consider an invitation in that vein.

Being the youngest of the Butler siblings I thought it right to consult my surviving brother and my two sisters (now, sadly, all dead) before writing on November 20th to both Boyd and Ron (Mr Campbell and Mr Goodhand in those days) to thank them for the very flattering suggestion and saying that I should consider it an honour to be President of the association so dear to my heart. I also enclosed a sketch to each of the design for our burgee and this was one which was adopted - and later, for our tie.

Correspondence with Ron ensued and before the end of the year he and Mary came to see me at High Point and we discussed very many things such as the name of the Association, who should be eligible for membership, where we should hold meetings. In fact many preliminary details were discussed and they were formalised at the first General Meeting which was held at High Point, Pangbourne on January 25th l975, when we drew up our Constitution - which has since been amended several times. In l974 we held two meets on June 1st/2nd in the Medina River off the Folly Inn and on July 26th/28th at St. Mawes, with tea at The Crag on the Saturday.

Ron produced the first newsletter in the Spring of l974, and continued to do so until l982 when Peter Mather became Honorary Editor and I took over as Hon. Secretary and Janet Band as Hon. Treasurer.

The Yachting monthly letters are reproduced at the conclusion of this account of the Association’s beginnings and I am sure it is true to say that it was Ron’s initiative in offering to do the initial secretarial work which resulted in the Harrison Butler Association’s existence today. He and Mary worked to launch it and keep it afloat in its early years and the momentum has been maintained. I think the above account explains why I referred in the summer newsletter, to there having been several strands in the formation of the HBA and that Ron was the chief instigator. Perhaps I should have said the Instigator.

Mrs Joan Jardine Brown

From the HBA Newsletter No. 28. Winter 1998