|  | Chris Witts is a man with a passion about the River Severn. It is a passion that has taken him from teenage deckhand on the river to successful publisher, in an interesting and varied life.  When I left school I was offered an apprenticeship at the local shipyard, but that wasn't for me, I wanted to work on the tanker barges | | Chris Witts. |
Born in Bristol in 1944, and relocating to Gloucester in 1951, Chris's love affair with the Severn began at the tender age of 16. In 1960 he joined the company of John Harker Ltd as a deckhand on their tanker barges operating between Swansea and Worcester.
Taking the role of 'lad' Chris joined a four man team which included skipper, mate and engineer and he spent many a happy time navigating the river.  | | Scene of the Severn Bridge disaster. |
While on his second boat the Wilsdale H Chris and his crew witnessed the Severn Bridge disaster. On a particularly bad and foggy night two barges lost their way on the Severn Estuary and crashed into the Severn Bridge. The two petrol barges ignited, setting the Severn alight, and five men were tragically killed.
At times life on the barges was tough but Chris was fulfilling his dream of living and working on the river. A dream that began when he was still at Central Boys School.
During sports lessons Chris would play truant, head down to the Gloucester docks, and became mesmerised by the barges going in and out of the docks. In 1963 he left the river for a new and exciting career. A brief stop gap at the Walls ice cream factory was followed by twenty years in the Gloucestershire fire service.
During this period, not only was he a full-time fireman but he also freelanced for eight years as a photographer for the local paper. After retirement the lure of the Severn soon drew him back and Chris found himself back on the boats again.  | | The Tirley Hull entering Gloucester Docks. |
In 1993 Allied Mills Ltd started to carry grain again on the Severn, from Sharpness to Tewkesbury, and Chris became first mate on the Tirley and Chacely grain boats. He was then promoted to skipper in 1995 after the death of his boss.
Today Chris is putting his passion for the river down on paper and has become a successful publisher.
Recent publications include:
Mighty Severn Bore
A Century of Bridges
Tales of the River Severn
Along the Severn from source to sea.
He has even developed his own website devoted to the Severn which you can visit at: www.severntales.co.uk |
