Tributes to Churchouse Boats’ Stewart Brown
One of the leading figures in the Drascombe community, Stewart Brown, has died after losing his battle with cancer.
Stewart was one of the early Drascombe rally organisers and a south coast rep before he became the owner of Churchouse Boats Ltd, the sole licensed builders of the Drascombe range of boats since 2002. He was also an active member on several British Marine committees.
The current owner and managing director of Churchouse Boats, Sharon Geary-Harwood, said Stewart was always ready to answer a call for help, giving sound advice to beginner sailors, as well as making people feel welcome aboard his Drifter D22 with a gin and tonic.
“Stewart was my walking Drascombe encyclopedia, however we have all learned a great deal from him over the years, how many people actually had or have a job which is their hobby and passion? That was what Stewart had for 16 years,” she said.
In 2006 Stewart helped design and then build the Drifter 22 prototype, following on from the late John Watkinson’s Drascombe design. The D22 went into production with the first one on show at the Earls Court Boat Show in 2007.
Stewart stood back and sold Churchouse Boats to Geary-Harwood and Simon Harwood in February 2013, allowing him more time to enjoy his passion for sailing.
Sadly the cancer returned in 2016, and even through treatment he still made sure that he joined in with Drascamp and the Drascombe Golden Jubilee in 2017.
“Stewart leaves a lasting legacy behind with Drascombe owners the whole world over,” added Geary-Harwood.