Astonian, you made me laugh.......my Dad had a remote-control boat which he made from a kit, and we went to Lightwoods to sail it while I paddled!!! (About 1956 I guess).
No, we didn't have any stones thrown so that's OK, but Dad wouldn't have shouted at you, he would have prefererred to show you how it worked.
We certainly weren't posh though, Dad used to save threepenny-bits in a jar to pay for the batteries it needed, and we walked there and back with the boat on a converted push-chair to save money on bus fares.
My brother has still got it, but my little home-made yacht gave up along time ago!
The pond is a skate-park now, at least it's being used for something useful I suppose.