Nancy was built by Warner Bros and bought by Joseph Sergent
grandfather of the donor of the boat. It was built Gravesend fashion with 7
strakes. Further up the river at Charlton and Greenwich 5 and 6 stakes were
more usual. The Port of London Authority Licence. entitled her to carry 8
passengers. Up to 2 tons of merchandise could also be carried. The waterman
rowed his skiff single-handed, but an apprentice was sometimes taken on to man
a second pair of sculls. Two extra tholes are fitted for racing purposes when
four oarsmen were carried. The seat boards seen hanging beneath the thwarts
could be used to keep a dry seat for the oarsmen. The boat was owned and worked
by the Sergent family of Chariton through her entire career. In 1914 Nancy
achieved fame by assisting in the rescue of many lives from GSNC's ship ORIEL,
sunk in collision with the CORINTHIAN of Charlton. In 1950 the old skiff was in
a state of decay and lay on the foreshore at Chariton, Mr Fred Garrett, a local
boat builder, decided to take her in hand and was able to restore her to her
original condition. She was presented to the Museum by Capt.Tom Sergent in
1970.
The following is an obituary from the Gravesend Reporter about my Great Great Grandfather;
Gravesend Reporter –Saturday 14th
November 1914 (page 8)
Gravesend Resident’s Tragic End
The Late Mr W. J. Warner
A
Painful sensation was created in the town generally on Tuesday last when it
became known that in a tragic manner, one of its oldest and most respected
inhabitants, Mr William J. Warner had passed away on the previous day.
The
deceased gentleman was the proprietor of a well known skiff building business
in East Street, and it was whilst travelling to Mitcham on business that he met
his sudden end by falling from a motor omnibus.
The
inquest was held at Croydon yesterday (Thursday) evening. The story of his
unexpected demise is particularly sad, for at the time the old gentleman was
feeling better in health than he had for some time, and he had, too, been
looking forward to the opportunity that he would have of seeing the Lord
Mayor’s procession.
Leaving
Gravesend about 11 o’clock on Monday morning, Mr Warner set off for town with
the idea of ‘killing two birds with one stone’ as he humorously remarked to his
son before he left home. Presumably, after he had seen the procession, the
deceased gentleman boarded the bus for Mitcham. Arriving at his destination it
appears that the conductor had rung the bell to stop but before it had slowed
down to any appreciable degree Mr Warner jumped off from the step. And this was
where the mistake was made. Instead of jumping – if he wanted to do so before
the bus came to a standstill – in the same direction as that which the bus was
travelling, he jumped in the opposite direction, with the result, of course,
that he fell heavily, his head coming into violent contact with the
ground. He was at once taken on an
ambulance to the Croydon Hospital in an unconscious condition. An examination revealed that the side of his
head was severely fractured. The accident occurred about half past four in the
afternoon and at help past nine in the evening he passed away, having never
regained consciousness.
Mr
W. J. Warner jnr (his son) received intimation of the accident about half past
eight and he, of course, immediately set off for Mitcham. He did not reach his
destination, however, until midnight, when the news of his father’s death was
broken to him.
The
late Mr Warner, as stated above, was one of the most familiar of the waterside
personalities of the borough. He was not a native, he being born at Greenwich
seventy-two years ago. He removed to Gravesend at a very early age. He had, in
fact, resided over his boat building premises in East Street for over sixty
years. Well known and esteemed by all who seek their livelihood on the Thames,
popular amongst the shipping firms, the deceased gentleman had a large
connection in his particular business, the ‘Warner Skiffs having a reputation
which many competitors envied. During the sixty years that he had been in the
business, Mr Warner, with but only two exceptions, had built every prize-boat
for the Regatta. The ‘Warner Skiff’ was an equally enviable prize in several
regattas in Ireland, Bermuda, France and Australia, their value lying in the
fact that they are a type quite distinctive in themselves.
A
Conservative in politics, the deceased gentleman took a keen interest in the
current affairs of Artillery Volunteers (now defunct). In 1886 he won the five
guinea challenge cup for being the best shot in the regiment. Mr Warner was
predeceased by his wife some thirty years ago. There are two sons, Mr W. J.
Warner (who will carry on the business) and Mr. Charles Warner, an inspector of
the Port of London Authority. Mrs. Pipe, who resides in Ipswich, and Miss
Warner are the only daughters. The deepest sympathy is extended to the bereaved
relatives. Despite his advanced years, the late Mr Warner was, right up to the
last, quite hale and hearty. His firm step and general deportment, his keen
business acumen, his heartiness and vigour in everything that he undertook to
do, quite deceived one as to his age, and from outward appearances would judge
him to be between fifty and fifty-five years old. Our photograph speaks
eloquently of this fact, for all will acknowledge that it is typical of him. In
fact until just twelve months ago, when he was laid low with pneumonia, the
deseased gentleman had never during his long career had an illness.
But
for this unfortunate accident he would, undoubtedly without any unforeseen
accidents, have lived for many years.
The
late Mr. Warner’s father, it will be remembered, passed away at the advanced
age of ninety years, some four or five years ago. The funeral takes place in
Gravesend on Monday.
Below is an photograph of one of the famous skiffs with the gentlemen who built it.
