Our Story
Chapter has a rich history that began in the renowned surfing village of Braunton in North Devon in the mid-1970s.
It was here that Mervyn Beard and John 'Flipper' Stacey founded Chapter and embarked on a journey that would leave an indelible mark on the surfing community.
Mervyn recalls that the name was agreed over a few too many drinks at The Williams Arms pub, and says 'We didn't want any name directly linked to surfing like ocean this or that. I had this belief that people will remember us if the name is a bit of an oddity and that happened with Chapter. It represented a new Chapter in my life.”
Mervyn was already experienced in shaping boards for Tiki and started shaping the new Chapter Surfboards. Quality board shapers like Paul Blacker in Braunton were part of the innovation of new board shapes under Chapter.
Chapter pushed the progression of both longboard and shortboard surfing with radical twin pins, knee boards and thruster shapes.
The innovative approach revolutionised board production in the area allowing for the creation of high-quality moulded boards at an affordable price. This breakthrough propelled Chapter Surfboards into the limelight, churning out up to 25 boards a week well into the 1980s.
Alan Brooks started surfing in 1966 and had previously worked at Tiki and shaped boards for Windjammer surfboards before becoming a partner in the legendary Chapter Surf Shop in South Street, Braunton, North Devon.
Alan was interviewed in the shop in the late 1980s and recalled the the early days of surfing in North Devon saying "People in England didn't even know you could surf in England. And yet there was a few people here surfing. Occasionally you would go out as the only one".
Sadly Alan passed away in 2022 and is much missed by his family in Braunton and the North Devon surfing community.
In 1980 Mervyn Beard created the UK's first ever surf team called "Team Chapter" saying "It was a clandestine operation. We got everyone branded and turned up in the van at the contest in Croyde. No one had ever seen anything like it before".
Team Chapter became well recognised as a pioneering group of modern surfers, with the likes of radical Croyde surfer Richard Carter testing out new board innovations and then becoming British Surfing Champion in 1984.
Chapter gained local recognition for creating the Longboard Classic at Saunton, one of the UK's leading longboard beaches. The legacy continues today with the 19th Chapter Longboard Classic in September 2024.
Alan Brooks will be remembered for bringing knowledge and expertise to the Chapter Surf Shop through his surf related travels and adventures from California to South Africa where he crossed paths with such surfers as Mickey 'da cat' Dora.
Mervyn has remained a core surfer and shaper and relocated to the South West of Ireland in 1992 with Rebecca. A true authentic pioneer he said "I never wanted my name at the front of the brand. I wanted Chapter to stand alone through advertising, reputation and doing the best I could to make the best surfboards using the very best materials".
One highlight of his early shaping years was his partnership with Viscount Ted Deerhurst. Mervyn said "I used to surf the Point between Saunton and Croyde in 1976 and 1977 and one time Ted Deerhurst paddled out. After surfing together we ended up talking about board shapes and materials at Downend Car Park."
Mervyn continues: "Ted then approached us with very detailed dims for a new twin fin inspired by a Mark Richards board that Ted had seen whilst competing in South Africa. Ted wanted us to produce the boards with moulds and we gave him a royalty on every board sold. I take my hat off to Ted as it started selling to well established surfers in North Devon".
Alan Brooks on the cover of the 1972 'Surfing in Great Britain' by Carl Thomson
Today Chapter is in the capable hands of Alan's daughter, Colette Brooks with inspiration from Alan's granddaughter Angelina. Colette is leading the new chapter with support from Mervyn and Rebecca.
Colette in the late1980s with one of her Chapter shortbards
Colette's connection to Chapter runs deep, having spent her formative years surfing the legendary waves of Croyde and working with her father in the Chapter Surf Shop. Her upbringing immersed in the surf culture of the area instilled in her a profound love for the ocean and the community that thrives around it.
Alongside her role as a steward of Chapter Surfboards, Colette remains deeply entrenched in the vibrant fabric of Croyde. A familiar face running the Beach Cafe at Downend, Croyde which is the main hangout for local surfers.
Her unwavering dedication to preserving the legacy of Chapter while simultaneously enriching the local surf community is a testament to the enduring spirit that defines this iconic brand.
Read more about Colette in The Guardian newspaper here, in the heart of the North Devon World Surfing Reserve.
