Two Scarborough trawler skippers receive bad news

In 1934, wireless receivers were a relatively new phenonoma. They had all sorts of important uses. For centuries gone past the trawlermen were cut off from their families. In bad weather the wives and children of the Old Town stood watch at the harbour waiting for news. Boats were lost at sea especially in the era of sail. But with wireless radios the harbour could keep in touch with boats. In special circumstances the families could keep in touch with the families.

A sad case surrounds the death of Charles Wray. He was 69 years of age and living in Princess Terrace. He was skipper of the Taranaki when it was blown up by a mine in 1920. In 1934 he was taken ill and dying and the the harbour immediately got in touch with his two sons. Both were trawler skippers:Albert Wray was skipper of the Merlin; and Harold Wray skipper of the Auk. Both trawlers raced home with all possible speed with the Auk arriving at 12:35am and the Merlin at 12:55am. But sadly their father had already died just before midnight.

Charles Wray left seven children:
- Albert Wray, skipper of the Merlin
- Harold Wray, skipper of the Auk
- Arthur Wray, a mate on the steam trawler Riby.
- Charles Wray, a Malton butcher.
- Mrs W.A. Colley, daughter
- Mrs H Smalley, daughter
- Mrs Ethel Dunn, daughter

On hearing the sad news the flags were flown at half masts at Scarborough harbour as a sign of respect. Two sad losses struck the fishing community that week as Robert Cammish, a regular on the Lifeboat died.

Sources
- Scarborough Evening News, 20th August 1934.

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• Three Scarborough trawlers sunk by mines in 1920
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• The Beam trawl and the Otter trawl
• Sea shanties and the filey Fishermen's choir

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