Page 3 - Porthleven

The years 1951 to 1952 were certainly quiet. In 1951 and as such deployed for the carriage of cased petrol
there were just two arrivals: Metcalf Motor Coasters’ ahead of D-Day), and David M (350grt/33). All the cargoes
Polly M (380grt/37) (previously deployed for the carriage were of coal, eight from Blyth, the remainder from Goole.
of cased petrol for D-Day) and the Moreton Corbet,
previously referred to when arriving under a different The following year – 1955 – was on a par with the previous
name in 1949. Both vessels brought coal cargoes from year with twelve arrivals. The total would have been
Blyth. The following year saw just one arrival, the Lady thirteen had not Lesrix (590grt/38), owned by J. R. Rix Ltd.
Sophia (232grt/38) then in the ownership of D. J. and of Hull, been re-routed to discharge at Hayle whether by
S. A. J. Bradley, better known as Thomas Watson Shipping. virtue of adverse weather or otherwise is difficult to say.
Once again the cargo was coal from Blyth. Lesrix had a beam of nearly 30’ which may have made
it impossible to pass through to the inner harbour. It is
known, for example, that Jim M with a beam of 27’ just
managed to berth in the inner harbour. Five years later
Lesrix was lost on passage from Goole to Hayle. The actual
arrivals saw Lady Sylvia arrive seven times; Lady Sophia
three times; with one visit each for David M and the
Dutch-flagged Venus (291grt/35).

The are plenty of onlookers to watch the Metcalf coaster
David M entering the inner harbour.

Coronation year, 1953, saw four arrivals: the Lady Sophia
(again); the Fabric coaster Seabrook (410grt/44), formerly
Empire Faraway, owned by Seaway Coasters of Hull
but sold to Everards the following year being renamed The Dutch coaster Venus being discharged.
Fortunity; the Lady Stella (213grt/35) owned by the
Bradleys; and the Dutch-flagged Baltic (249grt/40) which, At the beginning of the year there was drama when
exceptionally, arrived with coal from Goole. the Dutchman Friso (250grt/39) on passage from Par to
Preston with china clay struck rocks near Lizard Point. In
That trade was picking up appeared to be evidenced danger of sinking, Friso limped towards Porthleven where
in 1954 with no fewer than fourteen arrivals. The most the local pilot guided the coaster to port where she was
frequent visitor was Thomas Watson’s Lady Sylvia pumped out and repaired before resuming passage. Friso
(371grt/52) with six cargoes to Porthleven, followed by had played an active part at Dunkirk and in Operation
Metcalf’s Jim M (410grt/44) with three cargoes, though Cycle and Operation Ariel.
another cargo of coal from Goole on 19 October was
discharged at nearby Penzance due to adverse weather
conditions. During the year there was one visit each by
the Conlea (261grt/39) owned by Jeppesen Heaton Ltd.,
Lady Sophia, Lady Stella, and two more Metcalf Motor
Coasters: Rose-Julie M (402grt/41) (formerly Empire Bank

Left - David M once
again now safely
berthed in the inner
harbour.
Right - An initial view
of Friso entering port
with an evident list.

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