HappyReturnFE5

On October 8th 1904 a disaster happened in Folkestone. There was a terrible storm and Graham Saunders' Great-grandfather John (Jack) Warman Saunders. age 53 was out fishing in his boat, The Good Intent, with his two sons, John (Jack) Thomas Warman Saunders age 32 (Graham's Grandfather) and Edward Saunders age 26. They ran into trouble off Copt Point, and ended up breaking up on the Mole rocks. All three were saved by the lifeboat Leslie, although an Eastbourne boat in the same vicinity was not so lucky, and all crew were lost. If you would like to read more about this dramatic rescue, click HERE.

This unfortunate incident left Jack Saunders without a boat, and no way to support his family, so on October 8th 1904 the Mayor of Folkestone launched an appeal for funds to buy him another. The citizens of Folkestone rallied round and in March 1905 Jack took delivery of The Happy Return, which was built in Porthleven in Cornwall, and was registered in Folkestone as the FE5.

In 1916 he fitted an 8 hp auxiliary engine, then in 1929 his son John (Jack) Warman Saunders, who had by then gained the nickname 'Spratter' took over the ownership of The Happy Return.

In 1941 he sold it to John Fagg, who coincidentally is a distant relative of Irene, the wife of Graham Saunders, who first let me know about all this. He in turn sold it on to W. M. Grayling in 1948, and it was then sold to William Gale in 1963 who did an extensive refit. I believe Mr. Gale is the one who added the wheelhouse that you see in the picture above left.

1969 was a big year of change for The Happy Return. - Alan Rake of Kings Lynn became the new owner, she was renamed Britannia and registered LN 224. The registry was cancelled at Folkestone and FE5 was allocated to another vessel in 1982.

Now you would think our story would end there, but in 1971 she was sold again to Peter Barrett, and in 1987 she went ashore in a storm and was an insurance write-off. However, Peter bought her again, reinstated her and she was used for fishing until 1998 when she was decommissioned.

He then handed her over to the National Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby. It was identified as a vessel of heritage and enough historic importance to be matched by the Centre with an organisation interested in its preservation. So from there, she was taken to the Mounts Bay Lugger Association in Penzance, Cornwall.

The MBLA lovingly restored her to her original condition, and in 2004 she had a rededication ceremony at Penzance attended by Graham. She was renamed back to The Happy Return, and again sports FE5 on her bow. In 2005 she sailed up to Folkestone and received the VIP treatment from a big crowd. The photo top right was taken by Alan Taylor as she was leaving Folkestone harbour.

She worked hard for 98 years, and is now being very well looked after, and is looking better than she ever did! Here are some more photos.