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Schroders:Crest Nicholson Protest Goes Ahead Despite Boat Show Ban on Five Girls

Vince Shalom | 24.01.2005 00:16 | Education | Health | Social Struggles | London | World

About one week ago, the Schroders London Boat Show 2005 finally closed and the Shalom ‘Family Campaign for Justice’ from Wales, are claiming that their one man pubic representations at the show, were very well received, except by one particular company, namely 'Quay Marinas'.

Schroders Photo Banner
Schroders Photo Banner

Schroders protest Boat show
Schroders protest Boat show

Schroders London Boat Show
Schroders London Boat Show

Schroders Excel Boat Show
Schroders Excel Boat Show

RYA Working Together
RYA Working Together

Schroders Boat Show Crest
Schroders Boat Show Crest

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IPC Media Advertisement

Excel Boat Show Schroder
Excel Boat Show Schroder

British Marine Federation Photo Banner london Boat Show 2005
British Marine Federation Photo Banner london Boat Show 2005


Although published, in pre-show exhibitor’s lists, as ‘Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited’, it was actually ‘Quay Marinas’, a ‘new face’, to be found exhibiting on stand N1760 at Excel. The Shalom Family and their houseboat, M V Picton have been at the centre of a, Crest-driven, ‘beauty-battle’, since April 2000, when, 'co-incidently', Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited, operating at Penarth in Cardiff Bay, undisputedly caused a very serious night time accident to their houseboat home.

Public relations material published in time for the Crest Nicholson’s, ‘new-face-launch’, at the boat show, proudly proclaims that Quay Marinas is firmly built on the enviable reputation of the Crest Nicholson, Crest Plc Group. Quay Marinas, ‘new management team’, are all thoroughbreds from the Crest Plc stable. Messrs. Andrew Yates, Simon Haigh and Paul Rye have served many years, having been well-groomed in the employ of Crest Plc and/or associates.

The Shalom Family have already declared that they will not be deterred from their campaign aims either by Crest Plc, or Crest Nicholson Marinas, in any attempts by either party, to obfuscate the issues. The Shaloms consider that a change of name and/or ownership is implicit in this regard. They seek only a ‘fair and just solution’ in their official ‘Family Campaign for Justice’.

Apart from the harrowing night time incident to their houseboat and further accident suffered to one of their daughters at the Penarth marina, the family are now homeless, relying strictly upon family and friends for their accommodation needs. It is alleged that fundamental Human Rights have been abused, and the Shalom Family will also be seeking a change in the law. It is hoped that it will be made mandatory, for all marina-negligent grounding incidents, to be reportable, (whether the vessel is occupied by pregnant women and/or other persons, or not,) either under the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases, Dangerous Occurrences Regulations or other, most suitable/ appropriate, act of Parliament. At present, under United Kingdom Law, and from early enquiries with the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (M.A.I.B.) of the Maritime Coastguard Agency (M.C.A.) it would appear that oranges and bulk cargo on commercial vessels, in a commercial port, have more protection than the Shalom Family have experienced, in their night time accident, at the hands of Crest Nicholson, on their houseboat at the Penarth Marina, Wales.

The Shalom Family maintain that Crest Nicholson public representations have deliberately set out to swindle and misrepresent the facts pertaining to their houseboat home of 14 years. Crest Nicholson refused to grant the family permission, to fix the small water-ingress on their houseboat, which only became apparent after the accident caused by their marina company. Unable to attract insurance for the vessel, (until such time as the vessel was properly repaired) the Shalom’s insurance expired, thus the family fell foul of marina rules, for minimum insurance requirements. Despite the company being provided with a professional, Yacht Brokers Designers Surveyors Association (Y.B.D.S.A.) damage-survey-report, which indicated no serious cause for concern, Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited, subsequently sued for breach of contract, served notice and evicted the family on the grounds of trespass.

Although the whole family of five young girls, all under the age of 14, were officially banned entry to the show by Nigel John of show organisers, National Boatshows, Mr. Shalom, successfully liaised with Metropolitan Police and Excel officials in order to make peaceful protest outside the show. Along with the only home the children have ever known, the children’s 7 pet goldfish and all their personal possessions have been seized in the proceedings. Mr. Shalom campaigned for the entire duration of the show at Excel’s, West Terrace, (main entrance) and was very much encouraged by the amount of public interest and particularly that shown by other exhibitors.

John Callcutt Chief Executive Officer of Crest Plc openly admits by way of letter to the Shaloms that his organisation was “wrong” to have accepted the Shalom Family houseboat into the Penarth marina, but this was only after many years of Penarth marina becoming established as their home, and the subsequent accidents to both their boat and their daughter Rebekah. As Chief Executive of Crest Plc Mr. Callcutt was solely responsible for implementing health and safety in the Crest Group, which would have included Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited.

Crest Plc are still happy at their home in Thames Street, Weybridge, Surrey.
Quays Marinas AKA Crest Nicholson Marinas are still located at the former home of Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited in Avon house, Stoke Gifford, Bristol.


Schroders are listed as major shareholders with Crest Plc




Vince Shalom
- e-mail: wwwnoahsark@aol.com
- Homepage: http://www.mvpicton.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

Once again money before people

29.01.2005 18:21

Changing the name of the company will not change what Crest PLC have done, is'nt it about time justice was done and the Shalom familly compensated for the hardships caused and the destruction of their way of life.

Tim


Breaking a boat? A home? Or a Family?

27.10.2005 23:24

This can't be about money. Nor profits or share values. Or even image. This massive organisation spends more on publicity and corporate entertainment in one year, than the Shalom family could have hoped to have spent on the renovation of their boat in five years. So if its not about the money, why HAVE they shafted the Shaloms? Why spew the BS about the boat not being insured and therefore in breach blah, blah, blah, when the Family can prove Crest's culpability? What is the real truth behind taking such underhand measures to get them out of Penarth Marina? Vince Shalom spends much of his time away from his family campaigning for 'justice.' In this day and age, surely everybody has the right to live the way they choose, so long as they dont infringe on the rights of others to live as they choose? The real cost of this campaign cannot be measured in cash. The real cost is the time, stress and emotional upset Crest are causing by keeping this family apart.Their boat was their home. Their heart. Somebody up there - and by that I mean in Crests' ivory tower - should take a fresh look at the heartache they are responsible for causing the Shaloms'. Are you happy in the knowledge - or even aware - that your actions are preventing a loving family from being together? Would it really 'dent the coffers' to put real people before the politics of policy?

Pete


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