This is the Black Swan in about 1980
Black Swan is an ex RN Liberty boat.
Skipper Lewellyn Hitchens.
Leaving the Quay at Higher Town Bay, St Martin's.
(never did like those 'matt' prints)
These launches are quite beautiful.
Boatmen's Association.
Ignoring boat hire, and fishermen who gave their boat a wash down and took people out for 10 shilling and a packed lunch,
passing over the first water taxi provided by Albert Poynter and his
newly acquired boat White Hope (in part paymnent of a hotel bill) in 1923,
it became a hotel tripper boat at the advice of Captain Steven Jenkins.
In 1926, Vernon Thompson, rescued his father's ship's boat from a field and started his tripping with the 'Visitor';
later buying 'Bonnie Jean'. Then he had a punt built, to tow yet more passengers behind his 'Visitor'.
Leonard Hicks then bought the first Sappire. Vernon with his brother then bought Nemo and sold Visitor.
Then came a motor launch which they named Springfield.
A number of boats began in similar manner by other men on the Islands.
Then began WWII - men and boats required for war duties;
the boats returned afterwards painted admiralty grey and suffering badly, they were restored and set to work.
Family.
The three Thompson brothers who operated boats were
Frank (Francis Collett Thompson b1920), Vernon (b1906) and Jeff (Cecil b1915).
Parents were Richard Thompson and Clara Collett.
grandparents John Rogers Thompson and Elizabeth Williams.
great grandparents Richard Thompson and Susanna Rogers.
who are also my great great grandparents,
through John Rogers Thompson's brother William Thompson and Caroline Edwards.
Lewellyn Hitchens was the son of my great aunt Mary Thompson who married John Hitchens.
Boats
In 1958, The Boatmen's Association was begun,
with Jeff, Frank and Vernon Thompson, Leonard Hicks, Gee Hicks, and the IoSSCo (with Horace Nicholls and Lewellyn Hitchens).
Over the next twelve years the fleet included Springfield, Nemo and Kingsley, Gondolier, Golden Spray,
Seahorse (o), Sapphire(o), Gloria (and I and II),
Guiding Star, Sea King, Swordfish, Southern Queen, Britannia, Surprise, Black Swan, Lily of Laguna and Buccaneer.
[o=original].
Of those ....
Black Swan and Buccaneer are now in Falmouth as a part of the Maritime Museum, as working boats.
Southern Queen (built 1926) came to the IOS in 1957, she has since been fully restored as she is a Little Ship of Dunkirk.
Others have been sold on or broken up.
Five boats still work on the Islands.
Photographs to follow, after a couple of old ones
Raymond Forward
