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

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