In 1970, Liz Devas, a night sister at Kingston Hospital, purchased an old ketch-rigged wooden cabin cruiser named Lurline from TV producer Mark Stuart after learning that the nurses' home was to be demolished. Despite having no prior knowledge of navigation, she soon became involved in a significant maritime tradition. Within months, she was invited to sail Lurline from its mooring at Ash Island, Hampton Court, down the River Thames to the English Channel to participate in the 30th anniversary cruise of the Little Ships to Dunkirk.

Historical records from Tough Bros. indicate that Lurline had previously taken part in the original Dunkirk evacuation. On 25 May 1940, the vessel, crewed by H.L. Bayle of London and A.C. Buckle of Richmond, was dispatched on the same journey down the Thames to join the flotilla proceeding to Sheerness and onward to Dunkirk. According to Bob Tough’s father’s notebook, Lurline returned from the mission relatively unscathed, although her dinghy was lost and subsequently replaced at a cost of £8.

At the 1970 reunion, Liz Devas, previously unfamiliar with the detailed history of Dunkirk, was deeply moved by the ceremony in which a lone Shackleton aircraft circled the fleet and dropped a wreath in memory of those who did not return from Dunkirk in 1940. Like many new owners of the Little Ships, she was touched by the camaraderie among the caretakers of this important part of British history.

Subsequently, Lurline came into the ownership of Michael Simcock, who undertook significant improvements to the vessel. The original 6-cylinder Gleniffer paraffin engine was replaced with a Perkins P60 diesel engine, and the hull and paintwork were restored. Built in 1914, Lurline was likely the oldest Dunkirk Little Ship regularly attending Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) events during this period. Under Simcock’s ownership, the vessel completed three return voyages to Dunkirk, visited Holland, and participated in coastal events such as the Portsmouth Festival of the Sea.

Additional information from 2010 reveals that Mark Stuart, the previous owner, was unaware of Lurline’s status as a Little Ship until shortly before selling her. The first trip downriver and into the Channel after acquisition coincided with a Dunkirk rally, believed to have taken place in 1964 and possibly the inaugural event of its kind. The journey encountered difficulties, and there is speculation that knowledge of the vessel’s history might have influenced the treatment received during the rally. Further details about Lurline’s history in the 1960s are available upon request.