V36 - "Melody" ex V26 "Why" ex V17 "Flame" (1924)

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" LINK="#FFCC99" ALINK="#FF9966" VLINK="#FF9966">  <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Arial" ><B>History & Homes of the Sunbeam One Design</B></FONT>     |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History Homes of the Sunbeam One Design"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">        <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V33 Symphony(1935)"><IMG SRC="0430e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>    <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V41 Fleury (1979)"><IMG SRC="0440e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>        <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04658020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> V36 - "Melody" ex V26 "Why" ex V17 "Flame" (1924)</div> <div> <A HREF="id23_melody_v36_ex_flame__1924__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The SUNBEAM Index ">Sunbeam Index Page</A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Built by Woodnutt as V17<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#66FF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#66FF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>in 1924 for <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tuke, H. S. (Flame 1924)">H. S. Tuke</A>, A.R.A. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#66FF00" FACE="Arial" >An original Falmouth Sunbeam</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> V26 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Why </I></FONT>(1938-47) - Solent </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >V26 </FONT><I>Melody</I> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >(1947-65) -Solent</FONT></div> <div> V36 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Melody</I></FONT> (1965- ) - Solent</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id76_1924___names_of_falmouth_sunbeams_and_owners.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe"><B>1924</B></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame</I></FONT>  H. S. Tuke,  one of the founder members of the "Falmouth Sunbeams in <A HREF="id76_1924___names_of_falmouth_sunbeams_and_owners.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe">1924</A>" [<A HREF="id72_mead_c__j__h__the_history_of_the_rcyc_1871_1940.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography">Mead</A>. p125]</div> <bR> <div> Well-documented references to Tuke's travels are related in <I>Henry Scott Tuke, Under Canvas</I>, 1858-1929. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >(Wainwright & Dinn, Ch. 7: "<I>The Home Run</I>" pp 137-141). </FONT></div> <div> <U>In the winter of 1923  </U>Tuke] was invited to travel to the West Indies by the explorer and author Frederick Arthur Mitchell-Hedges. </div> <div> Mike Hedges, as he called himself, was in his early forties, the son of a wealthy London stockbroker determined to make his reputation by travel. Lady '<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >Mabs</FONT>' Richmond Brown, a wealthy socialite, amateur artist and author, who was recovering from a serious operation, agreed to finance his expedition, provided she could join it.  Tuke agreed to accompany them to Jamaica.  He boarded the <I>S.S. Coronado</I> at Avonmouth in November 1923. [so we may deduce he had ordered a new Sunbeam OD before his departure.]  Anchored off Port Royal, the party transferred to a hotel on shore, where Tuke was interviewed by the local newspaper. [check for Dec. 1923 published article.]  With Lady Richmond Brown and her companion, Tuke drove over the mountains to Black River, on the west coast of the island.  At least two pictures identify this excursion,<I> In the Mangrove Swamp</I>, and <I>Black River Boatmen</I>, being shown in the Royal Acadamy in 1925.  "In <U>mid-February 1924</U>, they sailed from Kingston to Belize, British Honduras... they toured the Cays in a chartered schooner.   ... they sailed down to Punta Gorda, on the Guatamalan border, intending to travel up a small river to discover a Mayan site, and, hired dug-out canoes to be towed behind the expedition's motor boat. </div> <div> "Tuke recorded; <I>The pitiless rain, the strain became unbearable, bitten from head to foot, faces so swollen, to eat was impossible; so, miserably, we started the motor boat and headed back the way we had come</I>."  </div> <div> "Tuke's teeth were chattering and he looked very ill." (F.A. Mitchell Hedges. <I>Danger My Ally,</I> Elec Books 1954) </div> <div> He was then approaching his 66th birthday. It was obvious he could not continue. The local doctor said that <U>malaria had badly affected his heart.</U> </div> <div> He sailed back to England on the <I>Coronado</I>, doing portrait sketches of some of the crew. He also sold pictures to fellow passengers, including Lord & Lady Lonsdale and Lord & Lady Mar and Kellie. Landing at Avonmouth, he took the train to London and was met at Paddington by his nephew, Willy Sainsbury, who took him to the family home at 5 Provost Road, Hampstead.  Two days later, on Friday, he caught the midday train from Paddington and Colin Kennedy met in at Falmouth.  </div> <bR> <div> His diary [April, 1924] would appear to read:</div> <bR> <div> Saturday [17th]: No sailing, <U>Spring</U> winds blowing. Went to the Bank and collected dividend vouchers; looked at John Downing's new house, 'all beautifully arranged'; at Swanpool, Athelstan Johnson (of Tye Rock, Porthleven) came to lunch; architecht Claude Russel Corfield drove over with his son (Roger); went for a run in their new car; went to the pictures. with Rudolph Valentino in <I>Four Hosemen & the Apocalypse</I>, 'a splendid film.'</div> <bR> <div> Sunday: Lazy day, going to tea at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >Marlborough House</FONT> (with his old friend, Mary Bull) . Over to Rosehill, Masson Fox; Supper and Bridge with the Broad family.  [Thursday following he took the Cornish Riviera Express to London, laden with 'gifts for his urban family, tulips, camelias, primroses, etc.' from Mary Bull's garden] </div> <bR> <div> Saturday [24th]: Royal Academy Banquet, in presence of the Prince of Wales. Tuke was seated between Lord Rothschild and Lord Burnham. </div> <div> Saturday [1 May]: Down to weekent at Gordon Anketell's Passfield Hall, Liphook, Hampshire.</div> <div> And so he continued, with visits to his friends, returning to to Falmouth at the end of May.</div> <bR> <div> "On his first Sunday [4 May] he was able to bathe off Newporth Beach, it signalled he was much better, and he was soon out sketching ships from his boat Nada, whose engine gave him manoeuverability but, supplimenting sail, lacked charm.  He was soon sailing in a new Sunbeam boat; and was as successful as ever.  That September, he won "the big silver Challenge Cup given by Captain Dowman" at the Flushing Regatta.  That was after he had donea good deal of work on the Flame, scraping and scrubbing the hull, and revarnishing her." (<A HREF="id72_wainwright_david___dinn_catherine.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography">Wainwright,</A> p.144)</div> <bR> <div> In January 1925, Tuke headed off for Paris and Italy, where <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >the Dowmans had a villa at Rapello</FONT>. Tuke's room had a wonderful view of the bay.  He then embarked on a tour of North Africa, sailing from Genoa to Algiers. and fell ill. He returned to Falmouth at the end of February. </div> <bR> <div> At the invitation of the Dowmans, he went back to Rapello in the spring of 1926, and visited Toulon, looking for paintable ships, and San Tropez, still a working port; "<I>Could see two nice Italian barquentines and numerous tartanes.  This is the first place that has really excited me since leaving home</I>."</div> <bR> <div> Tuke returned to San Tropez for two weeks, early in 1927, for the last time. The summer of 1927 was not very rewarding. The sailing was not good.  He was in his 70th year and suffering from chest trouble that sometimes made breathing difficult. (<A HREF="id72_wainwright_david___dinn_catherine.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography">Wainwright,</A> p.148)</div> <div> Tuke had a heart attach in February 1928, was slightly better after a summer during which Charlie Mitchell took him out sailing, [racing?] in Falmouth, Sallie and Johnnie Jackett visited him regularly, knowing he was seriously ill.</div> <div> In February <B>1929</B>, Colin Kennedy summoned Tuke's sister, Maria Sainsbury, who stayed with him until he died on <B>13 March</B>.</div> <div> Tuke hoped his youngest nephew Philip Sainsbury, would turn his diaries into a biography, but it was his sister who published a biography four years after his death. [Maria Tuke Sainsbury]. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id76_1929.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe"><B>1929 </B></A>The Club Regatta was held on 7 September, <A HREF="id76_1929.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe">1929</A>.</div> <div> In the Sunbeam class, the results were: 1st <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame</I></FONT> (W. H. Dowman), 2nd <I>Halcyone</I>, 3rd <I>Maranui </I>and 4th <I>Trent</I>. The other competitor, <I>Caprice</I>, gave up. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >It may be noted that </FONT><I>Flame</I> was bought by <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dowman, Wilfred H. (1880 1936 )">W. H. Dowman</A>* <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >[died 1936]</FONT> from the executors of the late H. S. Tuke <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >[died <A HREF="id76_1929.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe">1929</A>]</FONT></div> <div> [* In <A HREF="id76_1928___blackbird__w_h__dowman__was_a_new_name_for_berthe_bought_that_year_from__c_r__stephens_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe">1928</A>, Dowman had purchased the Sunbeam <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V30 Emily ex Gay Lady ex Santa Margarit"><I>Blackbird</I></A><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V30 Emily ex Gay Lady ex Santa Margarit">, ex: </A><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V30 Emily ex Gay Lady ex Santa Margarit"><I>Berthe</I></A><I> </I>(1924)]</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id76_1935_rcyc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Post1924 history of RCYC ( refs to Sunbe"><B>1935</B></A><B> </B>RCYC Regatta (10 August) </div> <div> Sunbeams  results: 1st <I>Aida</I> (H. G. Sicklemore); 2nd <I>Maranui </I>(A. Farrant); 3rd <I>Merrythought</I> (C.B. & Mrs Tracey), 4th <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame </I> (<A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tremayne, E. K.">E.K. Tremayne</A>)</FONT> and 5th SOLAIRE (Mrs Claude Lanyon).  <I>Aida</I> was a new boat built in 1935. </div> <div> <I>Maranui</I> had been sold by Capt. C.H. Tremayne to A. Farrant on the undertaking that she would not leave the port for three years.  </div> <div> <I>Solaire </I>was the new name given to <I>Speedwell</I> by Mrs Lanyon when she bought this boat from R. Foster.   (<A HREF="id72_mead_c__j__h__the_history_of_the_rcyc_1871_1940.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography">Mead</A> - RCYC 1871-1949 pp.152-153)</div> <bR> <div> <B>1947</B> Lloyds Register # 4164:<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I> MELODY</I></FONT> ex <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >Girl Friday</FONT>, ex <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Fancy</I></FONT> (1926) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >[CHECK Names!]</FONT> Solent Sunbeam O. D., Ratsey sails 1939, Home port, Hamble. Owner(s)</div> <div> 1. N. P. T.  Holman, Royanoke, St. Feock. Member  RCYC, Restronguet S.C.</div> <div> 2. Miss A. J. M. Holman, Penwarne, Falmouth, Member -Crn, -Rst.  now living  nr mawnan smith/budock</div> <bR> <div> <B>1949</B></div> <div> Weekly races opened on 25 May.  The Sunbeam class was joined by <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Melody</I></FONT><I> </I>Paul & Miss Jennifer Williams (later Holman) and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V10 Saucy Sally ex Painted Lady II ex N"><I>Painted Lady</I></A></FONT> (Mrs. N. Greville Williams), both boats having belonged previously to the Solent Sunbeam class.  [ Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.185]</div> <bR> <div> <B>1951</B> Lloyds Register - same as 1947</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>1957 - 1959</B>     A. J. Dunn*  was the Solent Sunbeam Class Captain</FONT>  [Part-owner of (then) V26 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>MELODY</I></FONT> ex <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame</I></FONT>, see 1961] </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31880700.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="112" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>1961 </B>Lloyds Register # 5092, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>MELODY</I></FONT> (1924) ex <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Flame</I></FONT>, Solent Sunbeam OD, Home Port, Itchenor. (p.371) Owners, </div> <div> M. H. Zeal, Garden Cottage, Stones Lane, Westcott, Surrey. Member Itchenor S.C. & _ Island S.C.</div> <div> H. H. Zeal, The White House, Park Copse, Dorking, Surrey,  C. A. , and  </div> <div> R. O. Zeal, Tanglewood, Croham Manor Road, South Croydon, Surrey,  and, </div> <div> *<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >A. J. Dunn, Arundale, Guildford Road, Horsham, Sussex. Member Itchenor S.C. & _ Island S.C.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1968</B>: V 36 <I>Melody</I>, Registered Owner, M. Zeal, A.J. Dunn. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id115_1968___sail_numbers_of_racing_yachts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lloyds Register of Yachts">[Lloyds Sail Numbers of Racing Yachts, 1968]</A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1972: V.36 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >Melody</FONT> (1924) was listed as owned by M. Zeal, Esq., of Wescott, Surrey.</div> <bR> <div> 1999:<I> </I>V.36 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>Melody</I></FONT> (Rolyt Boissevail & Anthony Robinson, Itchenor S.C.) entered The Falmouth Sunbeams 75th Anniversary Championships held 22-27 August. Her hull colour was then Green. </div> <bR> </BODY>