A man who is writing a memoir is calling for the public in hope to learn more about a former business that played a significant part in his childhood.

The Wembley History Society is relaying out a plea from Rick Hoegberg, a retired engineer in Alaska, who wants to collect as much information as possible of a former timber merchant business in Alperton called Causland and Brown.

At the age of 11, Mr Hoegberg was invited to crew a Firefly dinghy with his best friend in a regatta at Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

Their dream was to explore the Grand Union Canal, and by saving pocket money and doing paper rounds, the pair managed to have enough money to design a small wooden cabin cruiser by the autumn of 1972.

He was then taken to Causland and Brown in Alperton to buy plywood for the project. Mr Hoegberg remembers the yard, but not much else.

By 1973 the 14-foot-long cabin cruiser, called the Zehranadilla, was launched near Batchworth Lock at the start of their Easter holidays.

Then with some school friends, the group set north along the Grand Union Canal for many memorable childhood adventures.

Now Mr Hoegberg wishes to receive any information, photos or adverts of Causland and Brown to learn more about the business and help fill in the gap of local knowledge.

Anyone who can help should contact Philip Grant of Wembley History Society at philgrant69@gmail.com