Page 40 • The HERALD • 7th August 2025 v F @heraldpublishing v HANDY HANDS HANDYMAN SERVICES Your Local Handyman For ALL Your Small Jobs • Gutter Clearance & Clearing • PVCu Fascias, Gutters, Soffits & Conservatory Cleaning • Pressure Cleaning of Paths & Patios • Window Cleaning • Interior & Exterior Painting • Grass Cutting, Strimming • Hedge Trimming • Shed Re-treated/ Roofs Re-felted • Flat Pack Assembly Fully Insured Free Estimates Work Guaranteed References on Request T: 023 8084 0096 M: 07840 860202 All joinery and carpentry requirements undertaken • Bespoke wooden windows, doors and staircases • PVCu windows and doors fitted • Decking, pergolas and out buildings • Custom made wardrobes and cupboards • Fencing and gates Contact us for advice and quotes Tel 023 8066 8021• Mobile 07467 594993 fillisjoinery@outlook.com Professional quality joinery for over 25 years The Life of William Waterman Jr. by Robin Somes, Fawley and Blackfield Memories Last year, we looked at William Waterman, one-time landlord of the Falcon Hotel in Fawley. A er his rst two wives’ deaths, he married Mary Orton in 1867 and had four children, of whom the eldest was Arthur, born in 1869. Arthur followed his father in becoming landlord of the Falcon, and married Elizabeth Hayward in 1894. ey had two sons, William Jr. and Frederick, whose lives ran very di erently. Frederick, born in 1898, became a dairyman, and a er moving to Romsey, married and lived until as recently as 1984. William Jr., born in 1895, spent three years training as an electrical engineer for the Doncaster Electricity Tramways Department, and in Spring 1915 joined the Tyneside division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. His service records show that he was slightly-built, 5’ 4” tall, with light brown hair and grey eyes; his character and ability were graded Very Good. From August 1915 he served at HMS Pembroke, a shore-based establishment at the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, before joining HMS Hampshire in September that year. Hampshire was a Devonshire-class armoured cruiser, completed in 1905 and seeing service before the Great War in the Channel Fleet, the Mediterranean and the Western Paci c. At the outbreak of the war, she made her way back to Britain and was redeployed in 1915 to the 7th Cruiser Squadron. Soon a er William joined her, she was tasked to escort shipping in the White Sea, before taking part in the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916. A few days later, from the Orkneys, Hampshire was ordered to carry Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia, leaving Scapa Flow late a ernoon on 5th June. ree hours out, in a strong gale, Hampshire struck a German mine, and sank within 15 minutes. Of 735 crew and 14 passengers aboard, only 12 crew survived, coming ashore on life ra s. 737 lives were lost, including Lord Kitchener, and William Waterman. An obituary in the Hampshire Advertiser describes William: “Of a friendly, merry disposition, he was smart and reliable at his work, a valued player in the electricity works cricket team, a strong swimmer, one of the best shots in the works rifle club, and was highly popular with his colleagues. A deep gloom has been thrown over the staff at Doncaster by the news of his death, which is greatly regretted in the Hythe and Fawley district, where much sympathy is felt for his mother and the other members of the family in their bereavement”. Purely by chance, another casualty aboard Hampshire was my cousin Frederick Spedding, and his brother William died on HMS Partridge in the North Sea the following year. We’ll look at the Spedding brothers’ lives in another story. William Waterman Jr. (Hampshire Advertiser, June 17th, 1916) Hythe Pier Train Book Almost Sold Out ree years ago, Alan Titheridge’s book “ e Heartbeat of Hythe” was published to coincide with the centenary of the Hythe Pier Railway in July 2022. Of the original 1000 copies print run, Alan has just one box le . However, the book is available in Hythe at the Herald o ce, the Hythe Pier Museum, Hythe Ferry ticket o ce, Cards for all Occasions and in Lyndhurst at the New Forest Museum and Information Centre. Alan’s subsequent book “Hythe’s Hotspurs” which tells the story of Hythe much loved Hotspur ferry boats is also available from the same outlets. Alan Titheridge DO YOU FANCY SINGING A CAPELLA? Intersection Vocal Group are a small group who sing for fun, with occasional concerts; meeting in each other’s houses weekly on Tuesday evenings. Whilst the ability to read music is an advantage, it is not essential as they produce teach tracks for their songs. ey would love to expand the group to include a Soprano 1 and another tenor; but all voices are welcome to give it a go! Be prepared to enjoy yourself!! Put your nerves aside and ring Dave on: 07584 053399, or email: dpoucher@hotmail.co.uk Find Intersection Vocal Group on Facebook.
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