It was common for young boys to sail with their fathers or uncles in the summer months, on what were known as pleasure trips, and Alfie made one such trip in Stormy Times for the Dockyard Girls*.
In his book A Grimsby Life: Henry the Ninth, Harry Goulding* recounts doing the same when he was only four years and nine months of age, and his uncle took him on a voyage aboard the ST Loveden. He made the 9-10 day voyage each year thereafter until war was declared in 1914.
Not everyone thought it was a good thing, and his mother was subject to a tongue-lashing from disgusted residents of Guildford Street.
But Harry enjoyed his trip and has a remarkable memory of his voyage, of which I am most grateful, for it’s books like his that provide the flesh to the bones of my stories.
