mfv Jacqueline Roberta – B315 | Fleetwood Motor Trawlers

Information courtesy of Tony Charman (Bowcrest Marine Ltd) & John Gale

Technical

Official Number: 366459
RSS No: A14207
Length: 50 ft
Breadth: 16 ft
Depth: 6 ft
Built: James N. Miller St Monance, Fife
Engine: 88bhp Kelvin oil engine by Bergius-Kelvin Co Ltd, Glasgow
Re-engined with 95hp/714kW by Gardner Diesels Ltd, Patricroft, Manchester.

History

1958: Commissioned from Reekies, St. Monance, Fife and completed by James Miller, St Monance, Fife for Mr John (Jack) Percy. Skippered by Stan Sharp with his brother Dennis (Ginger) Sharp as crew. Later sold to Bert Reed & Jim Rowlands (Fair Chance Marine Ltd).
1958-1968: Registered at Folkestone (FE66). Skippered by Folkestone’s top skipper La La Taylor. She was consistently the top earning boat along the south coast and reputed as a great sea boat.
1963: Contracted out by the MOD for around 6 months for Wreck/Bomb/Mine disposal work as the MOD wanted Sk. Taylor’s expertise in locating wrecks etc.
Late 1960s: Sold to Edward Langan.
Circa 1985: Fishing from Fleetwood and involved in the Youth College Fishing Training Scheme.

The Rowland family were not fishermen they owned a well-known Rock Shop business in Folkestone at the time and as I recall just fancied owning a fishing vessel as well. At the time of purchase in 1958 and throughout the next 10 years or so she was skippered by Folkestone’s top skipper La La Taylor. She was consistently the top earning boat along the south coast. I remember La La always telling me that she was a great sea boat – the best he ever had!

She was unusually painted a very pale blue for the entire time she was at Folkestone which required constant work to keep her looking good. Folkestone is a drying harbour and she was fitted with legs as can been seen in the photos. During this time she was also used on many occasions for use as Pilot Boat for Cross Channel Swims again due to Her skippers reputation. Likewise in early 1963 she was contracted out by the MOD for around 6 months for Wreck/Bomb/Mine disposal work as the MOD wanted La Taylors expertise in locating wrecks etc. In those days they were not easy to locate as technology was not what it is now. The Channel was full of dangerous wrecks unexploded munitions etc. and mines were frequently hauled up in nets and brought ashore for destruction. JR brought one ashore around 1961 I believe. She also suffered an engine breakdown in 1961 and was towed to Folkestone by the Dungeness Life-Boat. She was sold to as far as I know to Edward Langan in the late 60’s and she was then painted black I think. Around 1985 it would seem that she was working out of Fleetwood and was involved in the Youth College Fishing Training Scheme when she was B315. She ended up fishing out of Scotland I think and then de-commissioned as far as I know.

Note: Owner at Fleetwood – Kenneth P. & Steven Brown, Thorton Cleveleys
Sold later to Neil Duthie, Glasgow. Registered at Buckie (BCK63)

Click to enlarge images