Herald - Issue 411

Page 8 • The HERALD • 26th August 2021 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v TRU-FLOW PLUMBING SERVICES For all your Domestic Plumbing, Tiling, Painting and Decorating Requirements • Fully Insured • Discounts for Senior Citizens Please Contact Andy Tel: 023 8087 0145 • Mobile: 07962 590089 Your Local Professional Electrician • Complete Rewires • Periodic Inspection Reports • Fault Finding & Repair • New Consumer Units • New Circuits • Central Heating Wiring • Extra Sockets/Lights • PAT Testing • No Job Too Small • Part P Registered • Fast & Efficient Service • Free Estimates Telephone Gary on 07788 865081 forestelectrical@gmail.com SOLENT SKIP HIRE FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI EXTRA REACH VEHICLES WE COVER YOUR AREA 023 8066 0123 Email: solent.skiphire@btconnect.com Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH A BLAST FROM THE PAST - Theo Smith and Ashlett Mill by Robin Somes, Fawley & Blackfield Memories For around 8 years, my great-grandfather, eophilus Osborn Smith, lived in the Mill House at Ashlett Creek. Born in Oxford in 1862, the eldest of 7 siblings, eo was a self-taught boatbuilder and designer. While in Oxford, along with his brother Harry he built many fast racing yachts for Oxford University Sailing Club. Leaving Oxford in 1901 with his wife and ve children, eo managed Hythe Shipyard for around two years, before settling in Ashlett in 1903 to run his own business from Ashlett Mill. As well as building yachts and dinghies, he patented several inventions, and helped Southampton-based engineer Edwin Rowland Moon in the construction of his rst aeroplanes, Moonbeam I and II . e rst was tested in a large eld at nearby Ower Farm; the second had its test ight at North Stoneham, where Southampton Airport now is. eo also worked with George Williams, founder of the well-known local rm, Williams Shipping, in an attempt to t an engine in their barge, the Spec . A strongly-principled and deeply religious man, eo fell foul of the law several times; being taken to court for refusing to pay the portion of the local rates which funded sectarian teaching in schools. e whole family were Wesleyan Methodists, and talented musicians, and would sing hymns and anthems in Fawley’s Methodist chapel. eo was also a lay preacher much in demand for his sermons at Fawley and further a eld. His boatbuilding took place inside Ashlett Mill; once built, boats would be man-handled out through the grain loading doors and lowered into the water. One boat proved too large to go through the doors, and permission had to be sought from the owner, Mr Drummond, to knock a hole in the end wall - where the entrance now is - to extract the boat that way. Sharing occupancy of the Mill was renowned local photographer and wildfowler Ted Mudge, who had his photographic studio there. In 1911, the Smith family le Ashlett, moving to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, where eo continued his boatbuilding, creating, among others, the Yarmouth One Design racing yachts, and designing the West Wight Scow. He died in 1924, aged 62; his sons and grandsons continued his business on until the late 1980’s. A much longer story of Theo Smith’s life is available online at: tinyurl.com/theosmith Theophilus Osborn Smith, 1915