This is a story of a Motor Yacht called Mabrouka which was built in 1926 by Camper & Nicholson.It was owned by several people and the one we know more about is Clement Hirtzell.His grandaughter Pam Coleman visited Villefranche many years ago and lived on board.Recently Pam was in Cannes Marina and saw the yacht again and was intrigued to discover more of the history both of the yacht and of her grandfather.
Very interesting indeed -all the detail of the 1926/7 tour of Europe. This was done by the original owner, my great uncle Tom Lawrence VC. I have a couple of albums with quite a few photos of this trip, although sadly without any notes and they are also jumbled up and in no form of chronology.
ReplyDeleteI also have a list of all the owners through out the boats life in Britain, however in about 1970 it was "...sold to a foreigner (a national of France". I can't say those were the exact words off the top of my head, but certainly of that ilk -a very British way of wording things!
I am in full agreement with regard the 'little ships' at Dunkirk. I cannot find anything to prove this point despite trying quite hard. Secondly, it being owned by Laurence Olivier -only if it was after 1970, as he is not listed up until that point. Nor is C.H.A. Hertzill, so I assume he also owned the boat post 1970? I am very interested in him, because of his links with Kenya which, no doubt by coincidence is where Tom Lawrence senior ended up.
Please feel free to contact me, as am very happy to share what I have on the boat and my great uncle.
Best regards,
Tom