I’ve spent the majority of my working life as an Outdoor Educator throughout the UK, Europe and N.America. Laterly focusing on my specialsm of Open Canoeing.

I spent a number of years until recently caring for my mother on a semi-offgrid property in Scotland, then since her passing I have been steadily working towards my next Adventure in life. This is where I am currently at.

That Adventure will sees me using the sale of my house to purchase a sailboat and explore the coastline of the UK at first, before heading further afield within European/Scandinavian waters, and potentially even further afield in the future..!

Canoe stern, gentleman’s yacht, architect G U Laws, builder Thomas of Falmouth, launched 1905. LOA 48’ OD 35’. The sailing yawl Dawn was designed by Gilbert Umfreville Laws, a partner of J A Youl in the design and shipyard business of Laws Youl & Co at the Burnham Boat Building Company at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.

Gilbert Laws (Jan 8 1870 - Dec 3 1918) artist, sailor and naval architect had learnt his trade in yacht design as a student of Albert Strange (1855-1917) the famous yacht designer, artist, sailor and writer.

Dawn was built at the yard of W E Thomas in Falmouth. According to the 1891 census Thomas was born in Ruan Minor(?) and was living at 2 Arwyn Cottage with his sons Betram 25 and Thomas 21. Thomas’ yard was well known for its design and build of Quay Punts but was eventually closed in after which the property was developed to include the present Falmouth Maritime Museum.

In 1924 an engine was fitted.

Dawn sailed to Dover in May 1940 with a small volunteer flotilla led by the Dartmouth steam ferry to join ‘Operation Dynamo’ but in fact poor weather delayed their arrival to permit full participation. Dawn’s participation at Dunkirk is set out in David Devine’s "The Nine days of Dunkirk” published in 1959. This action is further substantiated by Mr A J Gush of 8 East Street, Chard, Somerset who’s correspondence on board dated 16.11.86 wrote of confirming her presence with the then owner in Solihull.

Owners of Dawn have included:-

• 1906 H S Algar of 2 Kingston Villas Romford and who by 1938 lived at Lusaka, Kirby Road, Walton, Colchester. Believed to have been a friend of G U Laws and who commissioned the build.
• 1909 Albert John Gush of Axminster, Devon. B 1874. In the 1881 Census he was in the Devon & Exeter Hospital, in 1901 he was on board HMS Wanderer in Gotland Harbour. In 1911 he was living with his mother at 10 Bridge Street Lyme Regis and his occupation was stated as ‘fishmonger’ after his mother. He married Julia Anne and died in 1922 at Lyme Regis aged 48 when his occupation was a ‘coach body builder’. Dawn appears to have been sold from the estate.
• 1923 - 1954 John Roger Gregory of Little Ravenswell Kingswear. Born 1893 and died Kingswear 1980.
• September 20 1954: Thomas Aird Burnley Murray, was born March 16 1912 in Toronto Canada. Thomas lived his working career at 3 Moorland Court, Lawn Road, as a civil engineer. At Doncaster Aero Club he gained Aviator’s Certificate 16766 on a British Aircraft manufacturing Swallow, with a Cirrus Minor engine. Subsequently he lived at Woodcombe, Chivelstone, Devon.
• May 12 1958 Robin Anthony Parker, Gara Mill House, Slapton, Devon.
• Jan 26 1962 Lawrence Gilbert Turner, Dittisham Court, Dartmouth.
• November 11 1965 John William Andrew Griffith, 12 Fore Street, Kingswear
• September 18 1968 Brian Wynyates Smith, The Moat House, Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire
• May 26 1980 Noel Lockhart Peck, Three Wells Cottage, Castle Farm Lane, Lytchett Matravers Poole.
• 1985 Raymond Glynne Humphreys, Severn Starts Cottage, Chivelstone, Devon.