Hannah Cunliffe - Historical Researcher

The project:  Although a great deal was known about the general history of Kindly Light, Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, her early years and build were not so well remembered.  William Stoba, designer, was a hazy figure as were the details of the launch.  Malcolm McKeand, current owner of Kindly Light, has been rebuilding her for the last six years, since rescuing her in a fatal condition and was eager to fill in the blanks of her history.

The process:  Kindly Light was built in Fleetwood 1911 by the Armour Brothers.  With this knowledge, I made a trip to Fleetwood searching for any surviving information.  In some ways it seemed I had arrived too late, and not only by 90 years...  I traced through the library a local historian who had interviewed members of the Armour family and was a great authority on the subject. Much to my excitement, she disclosed that she had twelve bags full of notes only to continue by saying that she had shredded their contents two days previously believing them to be of no value!  Back to the library... local newspapers, newspapermen, photograph archives, surviving sailors and finally to the Family Records Centre to search for Stoba's birth and death certificates.

The result: After the initial disappointment of the shredded notes, I fared somewhat better; a newspaper article of her launch, a half model of a contemporary boat built in the same yard, Stoba's probate records and some photographs.  The search goes on, but it all helps to create a picture of the boat that is being put back together again.

To find out more about Stoba and the Armour Brothers visit http://www.lupton2.freeserve.co.uk/history/boats.htm