Family's emotional end to 60 years running marina

Paul and Janet Ainsworth have run the business for last 16 years but now plan to spend more time boating

It was with his "every last penny" and "dogged determination" that Mark Ainsworth established Farndon Marina on the River Trent in 1966.

The old gravel plant site, near Newark in Nottinghamshire, was "just a pond full of water" at the time - but he had bigger plans.

When he died 16 years ago, his son Paul took over the business with his wife Janet where they made many friends and memories.

But after nearly 60 years of being run by the Ainsworths, the couple are passing on the reins, selling the business to enjoy more time on their own boat.

Boating enthusiast Mark bought the 25-acre freehold site with the legacy from a family bereavement.

At the time, the family - including Paul's two brothers and mum - lived on a boat called the Gaelic Crusader, which would become the inspiration for the marina's logo.

A young Paul with his father on the Gaelic Crusader, which they lived on until the mid-seventies

"That's what we lived on until about 1976, then my father converted a steel barge which we lived on until 1979," Paul said.

His father then built the house at the entrance to the marina where Paul and Janet still live today - and plan to stay for the "foreseeable future", despite selling the business.

"My father worked himself into the ground almost, with very little funding but dogged determination," Paul said.

"He was a bit like the black sheep of the family if you like. He wanted his bit of England."

The marina has been owned by the same family since 1966

Paul - whose two brothers passed away - joined the family business aged 20.

"At the age of 10 I was asked to take our barge from Newark and bring it back up to Farndon on my own," he said.

"So I started young and I've been very blessed with having those [boating] skills."

Running the business has been a seven-day-a-week job for Paul and Janet - a commitment Paul said his wife gracefully "tolerated".

Paul said he had been asked to sell the marina for many years and finally took the opportunity to do so.

"We thought that while we're still in one piece, and we can walk and talk and breath, that we would go and enjoy our retirement," he said.

He added the pair wanted to enjoy a bit more time out on the water themselves.

Mark wanted a place he could call his own and bring up his family, his son said

"It's very, very emotional," he said. "We've had lots of happy times, some frustrations and lots of family events.

"We've met lots of people, we've gained various friendships over the years with customers and it's been a fantastic experience."

The couple said they would consider offers for the marina, which has 300 berths for boats, after putting it up for sale without a defined asking price.

Jon Patrick, of Christie & Co, the agent overseeing the sale, said it was a "unique opportunity".

"We anticipate that interest in Farndon Marina will come from a diverse range of potentially interested parties," he said.

The marina is now on sale