Shipping

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Five saved by Clovelly lifeboat

Tired and hungry, but otherwise none the worse for their experience, three men, two women and a dog were brought into harbour by Clovelly lifeboat on Monday afternoon after having spent the night in an open boat.

The party had left Combe Martin on Sunday in the 26ft Lyn II, the owner, Mr W J W Watkins being accompanied by his wife, Mrs Irene Watkins and three friends – Mr and Mrs A E J Coleshill, of Radlett, Herts, and Mrs S Rumball, of Twickenham.

When they failed to return fears were felt for their safety. Then, in the morning, they were located off Lundy.

It was not until shortly before 2pm, however, when the boat was 150 yards off the dangerous rocks at Hartland Point, that a distress signal was flown. Called by the coastguards, Clovelly lifeboatmen, who had been standing by, launched with the aid of villagers (the tide was then low) and less that two hours later towed the Lyn II into harbour, Mr Watkins still being in the stern sheets.

During a meal at the Red Lion Hotel, Clovelly, the party’s first since lunchtime on Sunday, they talked about what had been something of an ordeal.

Mr Watkins said that having been to Lundy, they ran out of fuel half way across the bay when returning to Combe Martin. It was then dark and he dropped anchor. As the wind was against him he headed back to Lundy and anchored in the shelter of the island. There was a nasty sea running. “This morning” added Mr Watkins, “the islanders saw our plight and gave us some petrol, which got us as far as Hartland Point. The coastguards seemed to know all about our predicament and I put up the sail to make myself more obvious to them. “

Mr Coleshill said: “Once or twice during the night I really thought we had had it” and Mr Rumball told how twice during the night they had had to light flares to avoid being run down. They had taken it in turns to keep watch.

Gazette article dated 30 September 1970

HMS Enterprise for Inshore Survey

Launched at Bideford

As spectators watched a new inshore survey vessel for the Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Enterprise,” being launched from Messrs. M.W. Blackmore and Sons’ yard at Bideford on Tuesday morning, the keel was disclosed of an 80ft. Pilot vessel ready to take her building berth.

The pilot vessel is one of two being built for the Qatar Petroleum Co. For use in the Persian Gulf, one being due for launching in March and the other in June next. With the new inshore survey vessel being fitted out on Messrs. Blackmore’s new mechanical slipway at Bank End, and with various other vessels in course of construction, the firm have regular work ahead for some 130 employees.

The christening ceremony was performed by Mrs. Lowry, wife of Captain C. G. Lowry, R.N. (Retd.), of Westward Ho! who is at present serving as official hydrographer to the Government of Sarawak. Among many friends of the firm present were representatives of the hydrographic department of the Admiralty. Mrs. Lowry was presented with a bouquet by little four-year –old Anna Dark, grand-daughter of Mr. W. Blackmore, one of the directors of the firm.

Prior to the smashing of the bottle on the bows, there was a short service of dedication conducted by the Rector of Bideford (the Rev. T. Derwent Davies), which included the singing of the National Anthem and the hymn “O God, our held in ages past.”

H.M.S. Enterprise then slipped gracefully down to the Torridge waters to the cheers of the onlookers. She was later navigated through the widest arch of Bideford Bridge, en route for the slipway. Some 106ft in length, with a beam of 22ft. 10ins., she will probably be the largest vessel to be built by Messrs. Blackmore and Sons above the Bridge in future.

At an “after-the-launch” breakfast at Tanton’s Hotel, Mr. L. C. Pound (Warship Production Superintendent) proposed “The Builders of the Enterprise,” and congratulated them on an excellent launching. It was the fifth of similar size vessels launched for the Admiralty from that slip-way. She was the third of three inshore survey vessels, one built at Cowes already doing good service on the Goodwins, The Echo; a second, Egeria, was launched a fortnight ago in the Forth, and he believed the Enterprise would be every bit as good as the other two. Enterprise was the keynote of Messrs. Blackmore and Sons and he referred to their achievements in laminated wood production, in navigating the vessels through the arches of the Bridge, and in constructing a new mechanical slipway. It spoke well for a firm that they could built an 80ft. boat and deliver it under its own power to New Zealand as they had done in recent years.

Mr. Harold Blackmore (managing director), replying, said the Enterprise was built to carry out coastal and harbour hydrogaphic surveys for the Hydrographer of the Navy around the coast of the British Isles. The prime requirements of such a craft were ability to navigate in shoal water, to obtain depths and to detect the existence of wrecks or obstructions to the sea bed, coupled with the ability to fix the position of the craft with accuracy. The Enterprise was equipped with echo-sounders, asdics and modern radar. Hew crew of 19 would include three surveying officers and three surveying ratings. The hull was of wood, with glued laminated members, and her displacement was 160 tons.

Expressing the hope that they might build further Admiralty ships, Mr Blackmore paid special tribute to the work of Mr. Parks, their manager, and all the staff and employees for their co-operation; also to A. E. Hutchings and Co., Ltd., their electrical contractors.

Mr. W. Blackmore proposed “The Visitors,” which was responded to by Capt. D. B. H. Wildish (representing the Admiralty Engineer-in-Chief), Cmdr. R. S. Brooks (Superintendent of contract built ships for the Admiralty) and Lt. Cmdr. S. J. Hayles, commanding officer of the Enterprise.

Guests were able to watch the new vessel going through the Bideford Bridge at the close.

Altogether Messrs. M. W. Blackmore and Sons have built nearly 300 craft of all kinds during the past twelve years (including many for the Admiralty).

3 October 1958

Brothers Mould Coat Of Arms For Scillonian

The new Scillonian now being built at the yards of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd, will carry an example of the craftmanship of one of the town’s smaller yards, Messrs H Ford and Sons.

It is the plaque to be fitted to the bow of the vessel that is the main contact between the Isles of Scilly and the mainland and the third in the islands’ history.

The existing Scillonian carried a bronze plaque which could not be adapted to fit her successor. The brothers Ford – Philip, Harold and Sid – the two last named are seen in the picture – took a mould in fibre glass and made the necessary adjustments.

Mr Sid Ford told the Gazette: ‘The colouring is incorporated and we have used nearly a dozen different shades. It seems that no-one else does multi-colours and everyone wants to know how we get them. It is a trade secret.’

The motif on the plaque illustrates the islands’ important industry, the export of flowers, the old Scillonian nearing home, the islands themselves and the initials of the owners – the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company.

The full Gazette article is dated 4 March 1977