Twinram was the name chosen for their hire company by Bill Andrews and Mike Adkins.  The name referred to their zodiac signs . Bill, a marine biologist and Mike, an accountant, started with two Springer built boats  (Weasel and Wedger) in 1975. 

They approached David Piper, who agreed that they might operate from his Red Bull moorings under licence from British Waterways, on condition that they would buy new boats/shells from Pipers. 

This was agreed, and a reception hut was erected near to David Piper’s workshop.  Guests’ cars were to be parked beside the hedge, adjacent to the railway.

The names chosen for the boats which they offered for hire were christened very much with a tongue in the cheek, but these remain a private joke!

Pipers yard in the 1970's. The building on the left is Twinram's

In 1978, the following boats were available for hire:

Twinram claimed We offer a personal service, taking all our own bookings, and boats of an exceptional standard.  The high proportion of repeat bookings we receive, indicate that we have many satisfied customers.  The boats feature full central heating, showers and abundant hot water, headroom of 6’4” throughout, pump-out flushing toilets and quiet four cylinder engines.

The boats were fitted out with careful thought to their flexibility.  Each cabin could provide a double or a single berth and also had direct access to toilet facilities.  Instead of the almost universal Ascot type gas water heater of the time, hot water was provided by means of the engine, backed up by a gas central heating unit.  The larger boats had an engine room where wellington boots and wet rainwear could be stored - an unusual feature in hire-boats of the time.

The Colonel at Middlewich	The livery chosen was green, with brown side-panels, lined with yellow.  This gave the boats a smart appearance, looking more like a privately-owned boat than a hirecraft. In 1980 the company moved to Longport Wharf, where the hirefleet continued to operate alongside a new boatbuilding venture, which was to become the well-known Stoke on Trent Boatbuilding Co.
59 feet layout
39 feet layout