From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Newspaper clipping from the Westmorland Gazette reporting on the future of the Miss England II speedboat following an inquest.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img079 | |
| Date | 5th July 1930 guessed | |
| FUTURE OF MISS ENGLAND II SURVIVOR ON THE SUITABILITY OF WINDERMERE FOR SPEED TESTS MR. WILLCOCKS SAYS SEGRAVE WOULD WISH TO "CARRY ON" SPECIAL WESTMORLAND GAZETTE INTERVIEW AFTER INQUEST "Miss England II is definitely going to be put in commission again for speed trials at a later date," said her designer, Mr. Fred Cooper, to a Westmorland Gazette representative on the eve of his departure from Bowness. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper left the "Old England" on Tuesday after a month which will stand out in bold relief in their lives as it will in those of scores of people officially and unofficially connected with one of the greatest happenings in the annals of Windermere. For it should not be lost sight of that during that period Windermere made history, not merely local history, nor just national, but international history. For it was on Windermere Lake that the three figure mark for speed on water was reached for the first time in the history of the world. It was Lord Wakefield’s ambition to secure the triple crown for this country; it was the fair boat, Miss England II, which achieved the triumph; and Windermere Lake will go down to posterity as the beautiful sheet of water upon which this classic deed was accomplished. Reconditioning the Speed Boat Mr. Cooper added that the engines and transmission were already being worked on, whilst the slight repairs to the hull which were necessary would be started upon in a few days’ time. It is not settled where the work of re-conditioning the boat will be carried out. There is just a possibility that the builders, Messrs. Saunders Roe Ltd., of Cowes, may carry it out in Borwick’s docks at Bowness Bay, but nothing is definitely settled. Some people have already rushed into print with many suggestions which may at once be disposed of. In the first place any alteration would be made at the suggestion of the designer, Mr. Cooper. The idea of making the “step” part and parcel of the hull may immediately be dismissed, as also the statement that it is intended to “shoe” the step with armour plating in order that a maximum speed of 130 m.p.h. may be obtained. Further, the statement that the speed boat, when re-conditioned, will probably race this year at Florida, Potsdam, Belgium and Italy, may be put on one side, for the first three meetings are over, which leaves only the Italian event, and it is extremely unlikely that Miss England II will be taken over to Italy. The International Trophy is to be raced for in the first week in September. It is possible to have the re-conditioning of Miss England II completed by then but it is doubtful whether the boat will be taken to Detroit this year. Not that there will be any lack of pilots. Lord Wakefield has already had a hundred and fifty applications from enthusiastic speed-men willing and plucky enough to pilot the boat. The appointment of a helmsman to succeed Sir Henry Segrave is, however, no light matter. The position requires a man of iron nerve, unimpaired physique, and infinite judgment, and highly skilled in the practice and technique of motor racing. There may be a hundred and fifty willing aspirants for the task on Miss England II but there are not a hundred and fifty Segraves in the world. Ready to Go Out Again Mr. Michael Willcocks informed our representative that he is willing to act again in the capacity in which he previously assisted, viz., as engineer. He is absolutely fit again after a perilous experience which would have daunted many a man, even though he had... directions on both rudders. Both scuttles... a fast step-boat which was capable of... miles per hour, and had had actual experience of his own boat being holed by striking floating driftwood when travelling at speed in the Bristol Channel. He saw the floating driftwood on that occasion, but it was too late to avoid it. He felt the impact, and found that the hull of his boat had been split to the extent of 18 inches. ENGINEER ANXIOUS TO RACE ONCE AGAIN Mr. Handley: Am I correct in suggesting that you were so satisfied with Miss England that you are not only prepared but anxious to race with her again. Mr. Willcocks: Yes. Mr. Willcocks then thanked all who had helped at the time of the accident, particularly Major Pattinson. John George Willcocks-Kitchen, engineer, “Brookfield,” Storrs, Windermere, said he had been concerned in the designing and building of steam and motor boats for over 30 years and was making particular observations from a technical point of view as to the behaviour of Miss England II. He watched the first two runs of the boat and never saw a speedboat run more perfectly. On the third run there was no variation of this perfect running until Miss England reached a point immediately opposite him, when, without apparently altering her course, she appeared to slow down but travelled about a hundred yards at this slower speed, throwing up more water. He then noticed her sheer to starboard at an acute angle, the bows lifting slightly. The sheer appeared to be corrected but the boat then seemed to get out of control, turned at right angles to her course and she then lost sight of her momentarily in the wall of water thrown up. 'MAN'S HEAD ABOVE WALL OF WATER.' Witness saw a man's head appear over the top of the wall of water. When the water subsided he saw Miss England inverted, lying diagonally across her course. She gradually settled round on her course again, but upside down. He saw three objects in the water—one on the starboard side, which he thought to be a man's head and shoulders, and almost in line with the stern of Miss England II. The second object was clearly a man's head on the starboard side and almost in line with the stern of Miss England II. The third object was also a man's head and arms directly astern of Miss England II. The second and third figures were picked up. The first had disappeared before any boat got near. About 20 minutes after the accident he was going back to Bowness on shore when he saw in the water what he thought might be a small portion of the broken step probably submerged with only two tiny knobs showing on the surface. This object was on his port side, between 200 and 300 yards astern of Miss England II, and just on the Lancaster side of the course. He went to this and found that it was the water-logged launch (produced). Thomas Cooper Pattinson, Enes Wyke, Windermere, builder and contractor, stated that Miss England II was inverted he took particular notice of its condition because he was interested in the construction of stepped hulls. He saw that the forward part of the step had broken off on the port side. Most of the bolts which fastened the step to the hull remained in the hull. The forward rudder, the propeller shaft, the propeller itself, and the after rudder were all intact. The nose of the boat was all intact and the clock in front of the forward hatch was also intact. He could see no hole in any part of the hull. Neither side of the boat was damaged so far as he could see the boat showed no signs of damage apart from the broken step. Miss England II was disturbed in the course of attempts to tow which were made by the police. This was the immediate cause of the boat sinking. If the boat had not been touched she would have floated longer. ENGINEER'S SATISFACTION James Edwin Eller, 149, Burton Road, Derby, experimental engineer with Rolls Royce Ltd., gave details with regard to the... | ||