Former trawler is new link with Lundy

This photograph looks down on the deck of the Lundy Gannet alongside Bideford Quay preparing to make her ‘maiden trip’ to Lundy as the new link between the mainland and the Island. Before she left on Wednesday’s morning tide, the Rev R C Dixon (Vicar of Appledore and Priest-in-charge at Lundy) blessed the vessel on its new mission.

Those in the picture, gathered round the hold are: Mr Dan Crawford; Mr W Pickett, Customs and Excise Officer at Appledore; Mr Peter M Lecky; Mr Trevor Davey, of Bucks, coxswain of the Clovelly lifeboat, who is the new skipper; Mr Stanley Smith, who manages the Marisco Tavern on Lundy, and the Rev R C Dixon.

The Lundy Gannet, a former trawler 52 feet long, had been converted to carry 12 passengers, with cabin, and hold to carry close on 20 tons of cargo, and a new Kelvin 88hp motor fitted, which gave her a speed of eight knots, about the same speed as the Lerina, which formerly did the trip. Mr Davey is a kinsman of the late Capts Wm and Fred Dark, father and son, who commanded respectively the old sailing vessel Gannet and the mv Lerina, former sea-going links with Lundy.

For a time mail from the Island has come by air service but since June 1st, the postal address has been amended back to ‘Lundy Island, Bristol Channel, c/o GPO Bideford.’

Mr Dan Crawford said the Lundy Gannet had a good trip round from Scarborough, and called at Lundy before arriving at Bideford late Monday night.

Two children were among those making the trip. Each nine years old, they were grandchildren of the late owner of the island, Mr Martin Coles Harman. They were Peter, son of the new owner of Lundy, Mr Albion Harman and his wife, and Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs Peter Harman Jones, son-in-law and daughter of the late Mr M C Harman. In addition to this family group there were Mr A F R Hatfield and Mr H P Worrow, personal friends, and two old friends of Lundy locally, Mr A E Blackwell, of Instow, and Mr A J Dennis, of Barnstaple, and the Rev R C Dixon.

Mr Albion Harman who, with his sister, Ruth, attended the VC commemoration service in London on Monday, representing their late brother, Lance-Corporal John Pennington Harman, VC, to whom there is a memorial on the island, told the Bideford Gazette it was planned that the Lundy Gannet, as far as practicable, should go to the island nearly every fine day in the summer.

Mr Harman said now they had the new link he planned to visit the island regularly.

A small party was held on the island on Wednesday night to celebrate the inauguration of the new service.

Article dated 22 June 1956