The "Happy
Return" and her history
This is an original
40' Cornish lugger
built at Kitto's Yard, Porthleven
in 1904. It
was the oldest registered fishing boat when the
owner decided to decommission her in 1998. She
has a beam of 13'6" and draught of 7'.
The Association saved her from
being broken up and she was brought back to Penzance
harbour in Mounts Bay under her own power on 4th May 1998
by her previous owner Peter Barrett to undergo total restoration.
Although she was launched as
the Happy Return (FE 5), prior to decommissioning
she was called Britannia
(LN 224) and
was used by
skipper Peter Barrett for potting in the Channel
from Swanage in Dorset.
She was originally paid for by
public subscription in Folkestone, Kent on a wave
of public sympathy for a local skipper John (Jack)
Warman Saunders who lost his boat the Good
Intent (FE 21) in a storm in 1904.
The entry in the original
registry in 1905 shows the Happy Return as a dipping
lugger built in Porthleven
belonging to the port of Folkestone and propelled
by lugsails for lining and trawling.
The first entry is the
registration on April 4th 1905 to John Saunders,
Fishmarket, Folkestone, and the second is for the
fitting of an auxiliary 8 hp Kelvin engine on 18th February
1916.
The vessel is built with
carvel planking on sawn Oak frames and the
traditional planking timber used in Porthleven
was Norwegian Red Deal or Pitch Pine, often at
extra cost, the keel is Elm.
The engine in place on
decommissioning was a six cylinder Ford
diesel engine on the centre line with no wing engine.
This was fitted in 1972 by Peter Barrett and the
previous engine was known to be an Ailsa Craig 4
cylinder diesel.
A summary of the Happy
Return's history:
1904: On the 5th
October a Cornish Lugger owned by John Warman Saunders
Snr. (1851 - 1928) called the "Good Intent" (FE21) was
was lost in a gale at Folkestone and the 3 crew,
John Warman Saunders Snr. 53,and his two sons, John Warman
Saunders Jnr. 32 (1873 - 1951), and his brother
Edward Saunders, 26 (1878 - ?), were saved. Both
John Snr. and Jnr. were known as
"Jack".
On the 8th October the Mayor
of Folkestone made an appeal for £200 towards a
new boat for John Saunders.A new boat was
ordered and laid down in Kitto's yard in
Porthleven.
1905: By March 7th the
Mayor's appeal had raised £121.9s. and Captain
Saunders' new boat arrived at Folkstone from
Porthleven and was called the Happy Return -
reflecting the safe return of the three crew.
The cost of the boat was £180 and on April 4th it was
registered with a gross tonnage of 18.19 and
37'3" length x 13' breadth x 7' depth. Saunders had five or six other boats
which were all distinguished by a fish weather
vane.
1916: February 18th -
Kelvin 8 hp auxiliary engine fitted.
1929: February 22nd -
John Thomas Warman Saunders Jnr. took over ownership
from his father. All Folkstone fishermen had
nicknames and his was 'Spratter' Saunders. A
newspaper cutting dating from around 1912
showing the Folkestone Fishermen's fife and drum
band with John (Jack) Warman Saunders fifth from
left in the back row is
shown here. We have recently kindly been
given a copy of a photo taken in Folkestone
harbour between 1930 and 1933 showing FE 55
(Florence Nightingale-owned by Richard Brice,
broken up in 1933), FE145 (Masterpiece-owned by
Bob Baker) FE69 (Ellen), FE126 (Pegden
Bros.-owner Sprat Punt). The photo is by
courtesy of Alan F Taylor.
1941: July 18th - John
Fagg also of Folkestone became the new owner and
amongst the crew were believed to be Bob and
Harry Featherbe according to Mrs Audrey Johnson
of Capel whose father was John Fagg. He owned FE
89, and the second FE 21- the Dorothy
Margaret, built in Ostend. Note that in the press
cutting from about 1912 above there is also
reference to fisherman William Henry (Blacken)
Fagg, George (Darky) Fagg and Stephen (Red'un)
Fagg
1948: August 25th - W M
Grayling of Folkestone became the new owner. It
is believed that Fred Featherbe who died in 1953
was a crew member around this time and perhaps
earlier as his grandson John Howkins remembers
sailing with him as a boy in the early 50's.
1963: September 5th -
William Gale of Folkestone became the new owner
and did an extensive refit. A 46 hp Ailsa Craig
4 cylinder diesel was fitted with the prop shaft
through the deadwood. The sheerline was raised
with new top strakes and covering boards, masts
were raised onto a tabernacle on the deck (instead of
a scottle) and the masts shortened and the mizzen moved aft.
A wheelhouse was also added and the tiller shortened.
1969: February 17th -
Alan Rake of Kings Lynn became the new owner,
she was renamed Britannia and registered LN 224.
The registry was cancelled at Folkestone on this
date and FE5 was allocated to another vessel in
1982.
This picture was taken at Swanage
during the late nineteen seventies to early
eighties
1971: January 16th - Peter
Barrett of North Cheam, Surrey (later of Swanage)
purchased the vessel for £1250 and became the new
owner. A new Oak keel and Oak transom was
fitted, some deck beams and planks were renewed.
The Ailsa Craig was reconditioned in June
1971.
1972: April 19th -
Decca Navigator Mark V installed. May to June -
a Parsons "Barracuda" Mk11 105 hp marine
diesel engine based on a Ford "Sabre" 2704E with Borg
Warner reverse gear was fitted together with new
electrics, controls, propeller shaft and
27" propeller by Reeves marine Services,
Poole, Dorset. On June 20th it was
registered to Peter Barrett.
1974: 8 planks with an
average length of 8' were replaced on the port
side forward after a speed boat caused accident
damage whilst on her mooring.
1987: She went ashore in a
storm and was an insurance
"write-off". Peter Barrett bought her
back and reinstated her
1988: Engine overhaul
by James & Harmer
1998: January 15th -
last day of fishing and the
registration was closed.
1997: James &
Harmer worked on the engine & took the
cylinder head off
1998: February 27th
- Britannia decommissioned
and ownership handed over by MAFF to the North
East Lincolnshire Borough Council for the National Fishing
Heritage Centre in Grimsby. It was identified as
a vessel of heritage and historic importance to
be matched by the Centre with an organisation
interested in it's preservation. The National Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby subsequently hand the
responsibility for Britannia over to the MBLA
1998: May 4th Britannia
delivered to Penzance harbour by previous
skipper Peter Barrett. She
has returned to Mounts Bay
after 93 years in the fishing industry for
restoration by the MBLA to her original
condition.
2000: November -
Restoration starts and boat transfered to KAB
Metal Work at Rospeath Industrial Estate,
Crowlas
2002: March 25th - Formal transfer
of ownership of Britannia to MBLA!
2002: September 11th -
Receipt of the sails and unveiling of the new
rudder by the Mayor of Penzance
2003: March 10th -
Transfer from her site after 27 months at Crowlas by police
escorted low-loader and re-launch by heavy crane
into Penzance harbour alongside the Albert Pier
at 3.30 pm. Peter
Barrett, the previous owner, was delighted
to witness this emotional event and was thrilled
to see the boat he spent 27 years with,
refurbished and back afloat.
2003: March 11th -
Inspected for leaks and found to be dry, taken
out through the harbour gaps under her own power
for first brief sea trial before being moored in
the Penzance wet dock to be fitted out.
2003: May 21st - 4.5 tons
of lead ballast cast into 28 lb ingots have now been taken on board
and 9 spars have been made by the
association members. The wood for the two masts
has arrived and is Douglas Fir "clear and
better" timber and the lamination will start
straight away under the direction of Keith
Billington who had experience of wood lamination
with work carried out for the National Trust. 80
odd metal clamps have been fabricated for the
job.
2003: June - July -
All the cordage kindly donated by Martin Heard,
main and mizzen masts completed and metalwork
and blocks now under construction.
2003: August 4th
masts stepped early Monday morning on the Albert
Pier.
2003: Saturday 16th
August first sea trials after bending on the
sails.
2003: On
Sunday 24th August
Happy Return was standing off to support the Newlyn Harbour Christmas Lights
Raft Race.
2003: On Monday 25th August 2003
Happy
Return was moored up in Newlyn harbour for the
Fish Festival then back to the wet dock in
Penzance.
2003: On 14th
October a full survey was carried out and
during the autumn-winter lay-up the interior
fit-out was started.
2004: 18th April H.R.
slipped for scrubbing, anti-fouling and painting
of the hull.
2004: May 16th: Re-dedication
Albert Pier Penzance 3.30 p.m.
2004: June26th-27th:
Quay Fair Day at the Golowan
Festival
2004: July 2nd - 4th:
Attended the Mousehole
Sea Salts & Sail
2004: July 10th-16th:
Attended the Brest
Festival after sailing from Penzance
2004: July 16th-20th:
Took part in the Parade of Sail to attend the Douarnenez Festival
2004: August 8th - 14th:
Falmouth Regatta Sailed in the Classics Race and
came second in class. Moored alongside the National
Maritime Museum as guest exhibit.
Events after this date are now
documented elsewhere on this site.
See all the links to the Happy Return on the
right of this page
