WHEEZY ANNA CK88

Built by Charles Kidby of Brightlingsea in 1925 for Jack Mole of West Mersea.

She was built complete for £27 10s. As Jack had not thought of a name his young newphew insisted she was named WHEEZY ANNA after a then popular song.

She was built for the Winkling trade. The winkles would be collected by hand at low tide and sacked up. WHEEZY ANNA would be sailed or in a calm rowed to and fro from the winkling grounds, which often meant four or five hard pulling, followed by for or five hours of back breaking winkling, then sailed or rowed home before the catch was landed. A typical day’s work might result in picking up 3 -4 wash measure of winkles.

Richard Haward’s father, Edwin “Dick” Haward brought Wheezy Anna. She was sold Geoffrey Arthur Hempstead in 1954. Other owners have been Mrs Rossiter, who had Ron Pullen sail her, Peter Clark, Gerard Swift, Neil Moye, Peter Rowe, Ed Allen, Becky Hewes and now her present owner is Harry Bowman.

To be continued..