Built on the River Dee, named in Ireland and now lying at Gloucester, Kathleen & May nevertheless has a powerful claim upon North Devon’s maritime memory. Appledore gave her three decades of working life; Bideford gave her a second life when she seemed in danger of disappearing altogether. There are ships which belong chiefly to the place where they were built, and others which come to belong to the waters and communities that shaped their working lives. Kathleen & May is one

At six bells in the forenoon watch — eleven o'clock in the morning, to those of us who don't run our lives by ship's bells — the pipe went out across the fleet for the very last time: "Up Spirits." It was 31 July 1970, and after more than three centuries, the Royal Navy's daily rum ration was about to disappear for good.

Most people will have heard of the Louisa lifeboat and her extraordinary overland journey to Porlock Weir. But how did lifeboats come to be stationed at Lynmouth in the first place? The answer lies in another storm, another ship in peril—and a tragedy witnessed from the shore.

The story of the Louisa lifeboat’s overland launch in January 1899 is one that resonates deeply with those who cherish maritime history and the spirit of community courage. It is a tale of determination, resilience, and the unyielding will to save lives against all odds. This event, immortalised in our song Louisa, captures a moment when ordinary people faced extraordinary challenges with quiet heroism. A Harsh Winter on the North Devon Coast January 1899 brought fierce storm