East Coast Sailing between the Wars

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Jan Harber

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Have been given two old log books of the yacht Albion (built at Rowhedge in 1904). The logs cover 1919 to 1928 during which time she was owned by Harry Percy Girling who was married to "Gert" nee Sadd (of the Maldon timber famly). They sailed and raced, with their two children Marion and Ivan, mosy weekends and cruised the East Coast during the summer holiday and bank holiday weekends, based at Maldon.
They were often in company with Herbert Eustace Sadd (who was married to Harry's sister Annie) in Nona, a Morecambe Bay prawner. HE Sadd was a founder member and a commodore at Blackwater SC and was active in the early days of offshore racing.
His son John Girling Sadd sailed Persephone, built at Maldon in 1920, and after the war Amione a 28ton Dallimore cutter also built at Maldon.
The 24 ton cutter Ripple built by Howard at Maldon in 1877 was owned by the Sadd family until at least the 1950s and I can remember seeing her at the Sadd wharf.
Based on the log books I am doing some research into the Sadd/Girling sailing families and their boats: Albion, Nona, Persephone, Amione and Ripple. The trail goes cold in Lloyds Register in the '50s and 60s but if anyone out there knows anything about the families or their boats, I would be interested to hear from them.
 
Jan Harber said:
Have been given two old log books of the yacht Albion (built at Rowhedge in 1904). The logs cover 1919 to 1928 during which time she was owned by Harry Percy Girling who was married to "Gert" nee Sadd (of the Maldon timber famly). They sailed and raced, with their two children Marion and Ivan, mosy weekends and cruised the East Coast during the summer holiday and bank holiday weekends, based at Maldon.
They were often in company with Herbert Eustace Sadd (who was married to Harry's sister Annie) in Nona, a Morecambe Bay prawner. HE Sadd was a founder member and a commodore at Blackwater SC and was active in the early days of offshore racing.
His son John Girling Sadd sailed Persephone, built at Maldon in 1920, and after the war Amione a 28ton Dallimore cutter also built at Maldon.
The 24 ton cutter Ripple built by Howard at Maldon in 1877 was owned by the Sadd family until at least the 1950s and I can remember seeing her at the Sadd wharf.
Based on the log books I am doing some research into the Sadd/Girling sailing families and their boats: Albion, Nona, Persephone, Amione and Ripple. The trail goes cold in Lloyds Register in the '50s and 60s but if anyone out there knows anything about the families or their boats, I would be interested to hear from them.
Click to expand...

I can remember Persephone languishing in the Heybridge Basin during the 70's, neglected and looking 'hogged'. A late friend, Brian Watkins, told me he'd owned her during the 60's. His wife is still very much with us and may have more info.

Sorry it's not much :o, but hopefully it may help.
 
I have lived in the Basin for the last 12 years and I remember 'Persephone' being moored up and looking very sorry for herself. I often thought what a great project but then looked at potential costs and the feeling disappeared very quickly!! She went away, to where, I know not, about 5 or 6years ago I would say. I assume due to berthing fees not being paid. If I see the retired lock keeper I will ask what he knows and report back.

Unc
 
Thanks for that Rudolph and Uncle Albert.
If Mrs Watkins knows anything more about Persephone, or the Sadd family, it might fill in another piece of my jigsaw. Although, sadly it does sound as if she's probably been broken up by now (Persephone, not Mrs Watkins).
The ex lock keeper could be a good source of info methinks. John G Sadd kept several boats at the Basin including, after the War, Amione who I remember seeing as a child when my dad kept Iwunda on the Canal at Heybridge.
H.E. Sadd's Nona, the Nobby built in Fleetwood 1900, was last mentioned in 1963 Lloyds as having been altered to a ketch, owner J.R. Heap, home port Auckland, NZ. Would be very interested to know what happened to her.
Albion, the yacht of the log books, was bought from Harry Girling sometime before the War by H. Coward of Woodham Ferrers; he owned her until 1950. In 1954 her last appearance in Lloyds Register, she was owned by D. Sizer, homeport Brightlingsea. No mention since then. I wonder if she was lost or damaged in the 1953 floods.
I would really like to find out whether any members of the Girling or Sadd families are still sailing or boat owning on the East Coast. They might be interested to see these log books which contain a rich seam of their family history.
 
Persephone,

I am sure there is an old (restored) wooden boat called Persephone moored at Ramsholt. Not sure if it is the one you are looking for but George Collins will know that boat.
 
Jan Harber said:
Thanks for that Rudolph and Uncle Albert.
If Mrs Watkins knows anything more about Persephone, or the Sadd family, it might fill in another piece of my jigsaw. Although, sadly it does sound as if she's probably been broken up by now (Persephone, not Mrs Watkins).
The ex lock keeper could be a good source of info methinks. John G Sadd kept several boats at the Basin including, after the War, Amione who I remember seeing as a child when my dad kept Iwunda on the Canal at Heybridge.
H.E. Sadd's Nona, the Nobby built in Fleetwood 1900, was last mentioned in 1963 Lloyds as having been altered to a ketch, owner J.R. Heap, home port Auckland, NZ. Would be very interested to know what happened to her.
Albion, the yacht of the log books, was bought from Harry Girling sometime before the War by H. Coward of Woodham Ferrers; he owned her until 1950. In 1954 her last appearance in Lloyds Register, she was owned by D. Sizer, homeport Brightlingsea. No mention since then. I wonder if she was lost or damaged in the 1953 floods.
I would really like to find out whether any members of the Girling or Sadd families are still sailing or boat owning on the East Coast. They might be interested to see these log books which contain a rich seam of their family history.
Click to expand...

Were not the Sadd family timber merchants / joinery manufacturers from Maldon
 
CliveG said:
That Persephone is a Stella that is raced quite a lot by Roger Reid.
Click to expand...

Olive & Phil Reid

PhilampOlive_zps7465670d.jpg
 
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