2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Walcon Marine. This milestone was celebrated at the Southampton Boat Show by both its clients and employees, where Managing Director James Walters reflected on this achievement:
"I have always maintained that any company does well to stay in business from one year to the next with everything that gets thrown at it. To mark 60 years is, I think, an amazing achievement, and one that we are really proud of.
It has involved a lot of hard work and commitment over many years by Walcon employees from top to bottom. We have been blessed with a steady and loyal team throughout the company - the office, the factory and our sites - the clients really appreciate it.
When we sat down and talked about what to do to mark this milestone it felt quite emotional. There have been many highs and lows since July 1963 when we started our first job building cattle grids in the New Forest. My father, Robin, worked on the site and my mother sorted out the weekly wages. How time passes without realizing it! Perhaps without celebrating enough.
Some of our pivotal milestones over the years include:
1963: Robin Walters founds Walcon
1973: Walcon Marine’s first contract for Southampton International Boat Show
1975: A landmark contract for the supply of pontoons to the new Brighton Marina
1978: We won our first contract in the Caribbean
1989: Moving to purpose built offices and factory unit
1990: Tough times in the early 1990s
2001: Walcon Australia was founded
2003: Purchase of the Walcon Wizard and waterside premises in Southampton
2012: Gold medal for Walcon pontoons at London Olympics Opening Ceremony
2018: Robin passes away
2021: Opening of a reconfigured Bucklers Hard, 50 years on from the first opening
It has been an exciting ride so far, long may it continue."