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Death of Fleetwood Skipper

Information courtesy of Lesley Budge

One of Fleetwood’s oldest and best known ex-trawler skippers, Mr. Thomas Fairclough, died at his home in Seabank Rd, Fleetwood, on Boxing Day.
A native of Fleetwood, he followed the sea for over 50 years, starting as a boy of 12 with his father in smacks.

He went on to own the smack Elizabeth & Ann and finally went to sea in steam trawlers becoming skipper and sailing for several local firms, chiefly J. N. Ward & Sons. He retired from the sea 25 years ago but worked ashore for several years.
He was a member of the Hesketh Lodge of Freemasons and a director of Fleetwood Bowling Club. In recent years he was a familiar figure in the Marine Gardens where he loved to talk about the sea.

Mr. Fairclough’s wife died 25 years ago, and he is survived by one son, Mr. Thomas Fairclough, who is also a trawler skipper, and three daughters.
The funeral was held at Fleetwood Cemetary following a service at his home conducted by Supt. W. Jackson of the Fishermen’s Mission. A memorial service will be held at the mission a week on Sunday.

Local Skipper sees Icelandic Eruption

Provided by Les Howard

Some trawlers at Iceland, when the underwater volcanic eruption starved of the Westmann Islands a fortnight ago, thought that a vessel had struck a mine. There was a loud explosion and a cloud of smoke covered the area.

Skipper Alex Middleton, of Fleetwood, who commanded the trawler Wyre Majestic, told of the 600 ft mushroom cloud similar to pictures of atomic explosions. Later they received orders to keep away from the area. Skipper Bob Rawcliffe of the Boston Monarch said the warnings about the eruption were put out by the Icelandic Government and the Naval gunboats on the radio. At the time they were fishing off the west coast of Iceland and saw nothing of the eruption but a large black smudge on their radar screens when they passed the area three days later on their way home.

Capt. Double – Wartime Tragedy

Fleetwood Family’s War Service
Captain and Mrs Double, of London Street Fleetwood, received word that their son Pte P Double L.N.L Regiment (Loyal North Lancashire)., lost his life through the sinking of the M.V. Leinster. Pte Double was 18 1/2 years of age, and joined the colours a few months ago, prior ri which he was employed as a clerk with Mr Fred Kelsall, trawler owner, Fleetwood. His father and five other brothers all volunteered for service.

The father, Capt. H. H. Double R.N.V.R., who is 60 years of age and has been on active service 3 1/2 years The eldest son Serg, C Double M,M, is 27 1/2 years of age and has been with the colours 3 1/2 years Petty Officer W Double, with a similar period of service, is 26 years of age Seaman Harry Double, 24 1/2 years of age, died at Falmouth six months ago. Pte. Ren Double, Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt. is 23 years of age, and has been in France two years. Mr Joe Double 20 1/2 years is in the Merchant Service. Pte. P Double was drowned on the Leinster, and the two youngest sons are in the Church Cadets and Boy Scouts respectively.

The MV Leinster was a civilian vessel, a Mail ship and normally moved with an escort. But, just maybe and only speculation on my part, because the English Government were at that moment in talks with the Germans about ending the hostilities it looks as though the ship left port without escort. It was hit by three torpedoes from a German U Boat not long after leaving Dun Loaghaire. Of 700 people on board 500 died.

Death of Capt. Double

Article courtesy of Sandra Cardwell

Captain Charles Double, one of Fleetwood’s best known and most popular skippers of steam trawler, died at his residence, 90 Shakespeare Road, Fleetwood, on Tuesday night, after five weeks’ illness.

Captain Double, who was in his 71st year, was a native of Harwich. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to a fishing firm at the port and sailed in smacks engaged in line fishing. He next went to Bridlington, and for several years engaged in smack fishing, until he removed to Hull, where he was also employed as skipper of sailing smacks and subsequently of steam trawlers. He obtained his skipper’s certificate at the age of 21 and also held the Board of Trade’s Master Mariner’s certificate.

Captain Double came to Fleetwood 30 years ago, bringing with him the first fleet of trawlers belonging to Messrs Beeching and Kelsall to fish on the west coast.

During the early stages of the war, Captain Double joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves as a warrant officer, and after serving at Scapa Flow on the boom defence her was transferred to Penzance, where for a period he held the position of harbour master. He retired from the sea at the conclusion of the war.

Six of Captain Double’s sons served in the war, three in the army and three in the navy and two were killed. His wife died seven years ago. He leaves four daughters and five sons, all grown up, to mourn his loss. The remains were interred in Fleetwood Cemetary on Monday afternoon.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon at Fleetwood Cemetary. The Vicar, Rev. J. W Marsh, officiated. The mourners were Messrs, Rennard, Jack and Norman Double (sons), Harry Double, (brother), Albert Double (nephew), W. Stephens, Capt. E. Ash, W. Fish (ferry manager), and T. Roberts.

The sons and nephew acted as bearers. Floral tributes included wreaths from: daughters Beatrice, Elsie and Jenny, Lucy and Frank, Renny, Connie and family, Jack and Amy, Normal and Bell, Uncle Harry and family, Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Joe, Aunt Sarah and Perry, Aunt Dora and family, Mr. and Mrs, Walker, Buyers and friends on the dock, Daughter-in-law Edie and children, Mrs. Spencer, Arnold and Dorothy.