History of the Vessel Llanthony

Llanthony was built in 1934 by Camper & Nicholson for Lionel Beaumont-Thomas, a prominent Welsh businessman, British Army officer, and politician. The yacht was named after Llanthony, a small Welsh town and priory in South Wales where Beaumont-Thomas resided. For many years, the vessel was moored in London during Beaumont-Thomas's tenure as a Member of Parliament. Subsequently, she was acquired by Lord Astor, who is rumored to have facilitated a romance between Lady Simpson and King Edward aboard the yacht.

In 1939, the Admiralty requisitioned Llanthony. She was transferred to Ramsgate and placed under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Robert Timbrell of the Royal Canadian Navy, who was only 20 years old at the time. Timbrell, a newly commissioned officer, was ordered to proceed to Ramsgate, where the yacht was fueled and provided with charts. His mission was to sail to Dunkirk, anchor off the beach, and embark as many troops as possible using the two tenders suspended from the davits.

During the evacuation, Llanthony encountered a variety of vessels, including sailing yachts, mud hoppers, and Thames pleasure steamers. On one occasion, she towed a broken-down troop-laden boat back to Ramsgate. Over several trips, the yacht rescued approximately 280 troops from Dunkirk despite sustaining damage from German shelling, which resulted in the loss of crew members and damage to the vessel's engines and anchors. After drifting ashore, the crew improvised a jetty using trucks to facilitate troop embarkation. Repairs were made under fire, and the yacht was eventually winched off the beach and returned to England.

Following these events, Timbrell was given command of four trawlers to assist in further evacuation efforts. The flotilla made several trips to Dunkirk, facing enemy attacks including a confrontation with a German E-boat. The Guards sergeant who accompanied Timbrell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, becoming the first Canadian soldier to receive this naval honor. Timbrell himself was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership.

Between 1985 and 1993, known as the Golden Era, Llanthony operated as an elegant charter yacht cruising between Greece and Turkey. In 1995, the yacht was found in a severely dilapidated condition in Rhodes harbour by Ms. Nicola McGrail, her current owner. She was sailed on one engine to Marmaris, Turkey, where she underwent extensive renovation, including a complete rebuild of her Daimler-Benz engines. The yacht retained many of her original fittings and became a showpiece at Netsel Marina, Marmaris.

In June 2000, Llanthony returned to British waters for the first time in thirty years to attend The Diamond Anniversary Reunion and crossed with the fleet to Dunkirk for the 60th Anniversary of the evacuation.

Over time, the yacht fell into disrepair and was eventually located on the Henley reach of the River Thames in urgent need of restoration. In 2019, a local enthusiast purchased the vessel and initiated a comprehensive restoration project. The work began in autumn 2019 in Gillingham, Kent, where approximately one-third of the steel above the waterline was replaced. The project experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restoration continued at Dennetts in Chertsey, where the yacht arrived as an empty steel hull without superstructure or interior.

During restoration, it was determined that the two Caterpillar engines and all electrical systems required replacement. The exterior renovation aimed to restore Llanthony to her original elegant lines and to reconstruct the iconic Camper & Nicholson superstructure. The wheelhouse and cuddy were rebuilt using 2-inch thick teak, with details faithfully replicated from the original design, including beadings and the distinctive window radii.

The interior was transformed into a spacious, family-friendly environment inspired by the art deco steamships of the era. It features American black walnut paneling with brass inlay. Modern amenities such as new engines, electronics, plumbing, air conditioning, and kitchen facilities were installed, ensuring the yacht is equipped for contemporary use.

Llanthony is regarded as one of the most decadent restorations of a traditional Camper & Nicholson motor yacht. Her combination of 1930s iconic elegance and modern enhancements secures her status as a timeless and luxurious vessel, poised to endure for another century.

Additional Information

• Ray Paton (Owner 1984–1995): Ray Paton owned Llanthony from 1984 until 1995. He noted that the yacht was once owned by Lord Astor, who sold her to Baron Kroniker, the Belgian military attaché during the war. Kroniker replaced the original Glenifer engines with Daimler-Benz engines and modified the bows from their original bluff shape. Paton expressed appreciation for those who preserved this important part of British maritime history.
• Luke Tickner (Captain 1990–1991): Luke Tickner skippered Llanthony during the Golden Era, based in Rhodes, Greece. He oversaw the re-boring of the engines and conducted the first charter. Prior to his command, the yacht had been restored from a neglected state in Cyprus. Tickner also recounted the vessel's use as accommodation during oil exploration in North Africa and for transporting refugees from Lebanon to Cyprus.