How CEBEC built luxury yachts from Darlington's North Road shops
A Tale of Two Entrepreneurs: CEBEC and the Washing Machine King
In the late 1960s, Darlington's North Road Shops, once bustling with the construction of steam locomotives, embarked on an ambitious venture into boatbuilding. This is the story of how the Central Bridge & Engineering Company (CEBEC) claimed to be the largest shipbuilder in the country, turning out a luxury yacht a month. But it's also the tale of John Bloom, the Washing Machine King, and his controversial journey to acquire one of these yachts.
The Rise of CEBEC
CEBEC, led by the charismatic Alexander Briggs, a former submariner, recruited scores of redundant railway workers and made extravagant claims about its success. In August 1968, Briggs announced the construction of a prototype £10,000 steel-hulled boat, utilizing recycled metal. The cranes left behind by the railwaymen proved crucial, allowing him to build the boat upside down and flip it over upon completion.
By the summer of 1969, CEBEC had secured a contract to build 40 boats worth £½m for the US. Briggs launched CEBEC II, a 45ft steel-hulled yacht powered by three Volvo engines, into the Tees at Stockton. It was set to compete in the 1970 Daily Telegraph/British Petroleum Round Britain powerboat race, with two Tyne Tees TV cameramen on board. The bookies favored the Darlington-built boat to win.
The CEBEC II and the Washing Machine King
In March 1969, the first CEBEC boat left the North Road shops, purchased by Richard Smethurst, principal of Batley College of Art, who had designed it. This boat, worth £10,000, was intended to be kept at Naburn, near York. Meanwhile, John Bloom, the Washing Machine King, definitely bought one of CEBEC's yachts. Roger Moore, the James Bond actor, likely visited the shops to oversee the progress of his yacht.
The Fall of CEBEC
Despite the initial success, CEBEC faced financial troubles. In 1970, the company was burdened by debts totaling £200,000 (or £2.75m in today's values). The Washing Machine King's yacht was marooned in heavy fog on the Tees at Thornaby. By the end of 1970, CEBEC had been declared bankrupt, owing over £200,000, with £78,000 of that debt to Barclays Bank.
The Washing Machine King's Journey
John Bloom, from east London, became a multi-millionaire by selling washing machines directly to housewives, cutting out retailers and wholesalers. He expanded his empire to sell dishwashers, fridges, and television sets. Bloom then entered into a deal with the Bulgarian government to offer a £59-a-fortnight package holiday to Sunny Beach. However, an 11-week postal strike in 1964 and retaliation from white goods manufacturers drove him into bankruptcy, owing £2m.
Despite his financial setbacks, Bloom's personal fortune remained intact, allowing him to live a life of yachts and parties in Majorca and Marbella. He later reinvented himself as a restaurateur, owning Tudor-themed restaurants called 1520AD in London, Los Angeles, and across the US. Bloom died in 2019, at the age of 79, but the question remains: did he ever get his hands on his Darlington-made Viscount 45 luxury yacht?
A Tale of Two Entrepreneurs: Conclusion
The stories of CEBEC and the Washing Machine King are a testament to the risks and rewards of entrepreneurial ventures. While CEBEC's rise and fall serve as a cautionary tale, Bloom's journey showcases the allure of wealth and the potential for reinvention. Whether the Washing Machine King ever got his yacht remains a mystery, but Roger Moore's Darlington-made yacht is apparently still afloat in the south of France.
