Shipping

A-Level Boys Who Want To Build Ships Like ‘Golden Hinde’

Peace such as it had not known for 12 months or more returned to the Watertown shipyard of Messrs J Hinks and Son at Appledore on Friday morning.

The lofty building that had become a Mecca for thousands, and out of which the Golden Hinde replica had slid so sweetly the night before, seemed strangely empty. A sense of achievement and satisfaction had been left, but it could not wholly dispel a sense of anti-climax.

Principal of the firm, Mr Alan Hinks, agreed to its presence. ‘But we have a small trawler and other boats to carry on with. There is no danger of our becoming a specialist firm. I do not thing that by building the Golden Hinde we lost any particular contracts.’ He said that the launching of the Nonsuch – the first replica built by the firm – had caused a vacuum. ‘But we quickly got busy again and have been absolutely full ever since’ Mr Hinks added. One thing is certain. The making of wooden ships is anything but a dying art.

The accent has always been on the old craftsmen in the case of both replicas, Mr Hinks agreed. Yet although the two riggers – a specialist job – were 70, the average age of the men employed on the Golden Hinde was around the late twenties or early thirties. The firm is training a dozen apprentices.

Few inanimate objects can engender more sentiment than such creations as the Golden Hinde. Why else should so many thousands of people have been attracted to the launching? They began to converge on Appledore in the morning and the trek – only the favoured could park nearby – continued into the evening. Even in the height of the season this resort had never known anything like it.

The public holiday atmosphere was heightened by the presence of the Dartington Morris Men and the Totnes Folk Club and by the costumes of the Totnes Elizabethan Society, the Torrington Cavaliers and Bideford Buccaneers and others. Prior to the launching by the Countess of Devon who, true to period, used a bottle of mead, there were speeches by her, County Council chairman Col Eric Palmer, by the president of the Golden Hinde Ltd – a Californian consortium of businessmen – Mr Albert Elledge and by the vice-president, Mr Art Blum, who kept things moving in a manner Hugie Green could have envied. The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev W A E Westall, recited the prayer said by Sir Francis Drake before he set out in 1587.

Mr Blum read a telegram from the Duke of Edinburgh who visited Appledore some time ago. It said ‘Many congratulations to all associated with the recreation of the Golden Hinde and best wishes for her voyage’. Eight year old Mandy Hinks, daughter of Mr Alan Hinks, presented flowers to the Countess and Nicole Cole made a presentation to Mrs Elledge.

Mr Clifford Matthews, who made the 18 cannon with which the vessel is equipped, presented to the Countess a scaled-down model. To the American owners Mr Bob Denbow, presented an engraved Devon cider flagon bearing a copy of Drake’s signature and containing water drawn from the River Tavy near Buckland Abbey, which was Drake’s home.

A flotilla of small craft was there to greet the ship as helicopters hovered above, flares soared into the sky, and cannons roared. Without fuss the Golden Hinde was soon on her way to the yard of Appledore Shipbuilders where her masts will be stepped.

Her programme before she leaves Plymouth in the late autumn for San Francisco, where she is to become a floating museum, is mapped out.

Additional enjoyment was provided at the launching of the Golden Hinde by an Elizabethan fayre presented by Appledore youth sports and social club. A colourful procession by members had as its climax the knighting of Francis Drake by Queen Elizabeth.

A fencing display by Mr Wyngrave Payne and company provided a touch of drama and there was background music by the recorder group of Appledore county primary school led by the headmaster, Mr R Curtis. In addition to Morris dancing, the ribbon dance was performed with charm by members of Barnstaple Operatic Society. Colour as well as practical help was provided by Torrington Cavaliers who also contested a tug-o’war with men from the shipyard.

Cast Adrift

The Golden Hinde replica might have made history by sinking a vessel within a few minutes of being launched. The pilot boat had taken her in tow when the wind caught her. Right in her path was a yacht with anchor down. The situation was saved when for a short time the Golden Hinde was cast adrift. The slight collision did no damage to either craft.