Kathlyn & May Schooner

The Kathleen & May is the last surviving wooden British-built trading 3 mast topsail schooner. Her owner, Mr Steve Clarke of Bideford, fell in love with the schooner in 1998 when she was lying in Gloucester Docks where she had been taken from London by the Tall Ships Renovation Trust who acquired her following the dispersal of the Maritime Trust's collection of historic ships. Knowing of her venerable past, and long association with the Taw and Torridge under the command of Captain Tommy Jewell of Appledore, Steve bought her and against all the odds brought her home to begin the long task of restoring her as near as possible to her original trading condition.

KATHLEEN & MAY was built for Captain John Coppack and named after his daughters Lizzie and May. She was employed taking cargoes such as cement, coal, pitch and clay anywhere between Oban, Scotland and the Channel islands. Her fo'c'sle could house four hands, while the Captain and mate occupied small cabins leading off the saloon, which also served as a mess room. Her first commercial voyage was under Captain Tom Hughes from Connah's Quay to Rochester with 226 tons of firebricks. She then carried cement to Plymouth, pitch to Cardiff, coal to Falmouth and clay to Weston Point.

The Kathleen & May is the last surviving wooden British-built trading 3 mast topsail schooner

In 1908, she was purchased by M J Fleming of Youghal in southern Ireland, renamed KATHLEEN & MAY, and placed in the coal trade between the Bristol Channel and Ireland, carrying oats or pit props on the return passages. Under Captain Joe Aherne of Youghal she imported coal from Lydney and from Garston, often carrying oats or pit props on the outward voyage. On St Georges Day 1931, she carried her last cargo under sail alone - 202 tons of coal from Cardiff. In that year she was purchased by Captain Tommy Jewell fitted with an 80HP auxiliary engine and her topmasts were shortened. Tommy Jewel operated the vessel until 1961, after which she had a series of owners until finally retired in 1967.

In 1970 she was acquired by the Maritime Trust with funds given by the Hong Kong shipowner Sir Yue-Kong Pao. 20 years later she was sold for £80,000 to her present owner Steve Clarke, where a complete restoration to full sailing condition was done in Bideford, back to her original 1900 build with the exception of some up to date conveniences like heads and a 400 hp engine.

www.kathleen-and-may.co.uk

Contributed by: Jan Brown