I remember seeing John exhibiting his Sea Egg at the Drill Hall sometime around 1970. I think he was from Southport - does anyone have any further information about him? This link gives a few details about his crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and his subsequent disappearance.

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/11/sea-egg.html

I met John on many occasions; usually where drink was involved! After his first trip he slipped in the shower and broke his leg; a bit ironic really.

I remember John telling me that his continued sailing in Sea Egg was to get enough funds in order to buy a speed boat that was fast enough to out-run USA Customs vessels. He intended to run cigarettes from Mexico to Florida.

It was a very sad end to a brave man.

Originally Posted by flyp

I remember seeing John exhibiting his Sea Egg at the Drill Hall sometime around 1970. I think he was from Southport - does anyone have any further information about him? This link gives a few details about his crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and his subsequent disappearance.

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/11/sea-egg.html

John Riding was from Southport and went missing whilst attempting to cross the Tasman Sea to Sydney.He set sail from an Island off Auckland called Kawau which is where the first Governor of New Zealand lived called Sir George Grey. he wrote a couple of books one of which was called the Voyage of the Sea Egg which you can no doubt get from the Southport Library.
This book was serialised in the NZ National paper many years ago.If you Google John riding Sea Egg you will probably pick up more info

Originally Posted by syd

John Riding was from Southport and went missing whilst attempting to cross the Tasman Sea to Sydney.He set sail from an Island off Auckland called Kawau which is where the first Governor of New Zealand lived called Sir George Grey. he wrote a couple of books one of which was called the Voyage of the Sea Egg which you can no doubt get from the Southport Library.
This book was serialised in the NZ National paper many years ago.If you Google John riding Sea Egg you will probably pick up more info

John was indeed from Southport and was head boy at his school and my late wife was head girl.

After his epic voyage in Sea Egg, he came back to Southport and I had an afternoon and evening out with him in order to do a story for the Visiter.

About 11pm it was decided we should go and see if my wife would like to join us (yes, I know, it should have been a shade quicker) and she was absolutely stunned to come down the stairs to find John in the hallway. She dressed in double quick time too...

We ended up in the Kingsway until around 5am before I finally finished duties as taxi driver dropping John off and back home (yes, we could get away with it in those days!)

Originally Posted by Stupot

John was indeed from Southport and was head boy at his school and my late wife was head girl.

After his epic voyage in Sea Egg, he came back to Southport and I had an afternoon and evening out with him in order to do a story for the Visiter.

About 11pm it was decided we should go and see if my wife would like to join us (yes, I know, it should have been a shade quicker) and she was absolutely stunned to come down the stairs to find John in the hallway. She dressed in double quick time too...

We ended up in the Kingsway until around 5am before I finally finished duties as taxi driver dropping John off and back home (yes, we could get away with it in those days!)

Why am I surprised a typical don't do as I do Tory.

Originally Posted by Beau Nidle

Why am I surprised a typical don't do as I do Tory.

Those were great days...

Stayed just round the corner from us in Weld Rd

I knew John as a friend of my brother. I think they met at
Southport Tech. They were both in Sweden in the summer of 58,
my brother on a student exchange scheme. I was there in 59
and I think John was there again. I remember him bringing
some 35mm slides of Sweden round to our house in Beech Grove.
We followed his adventures through the years in the Southport
Visiter.
The following website has a couple of pictures and info about
his attempt to cross the Tasman Sea: http://www.geocities.com/aerohydro/m...hts/seaegg.htm