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ALPHA SN1 CULLERCOATS BAY


ALPHA SN1 CULLERCOATS BAY

ALPHA SN1
The first coble to be built from start to finish in the village of Cullercoats and named the Alpha in 1948, 26ft long and powered by a Morris Engine.
An MP, a Vice Admiral, and a Naval Commander were among the visitors who made a visit to a small workship in Cullercoats. Norman Fairbairn built the Coble for his 16 year old son Peter. The Coble was the first one to be built in Cullercoats and was named the Alpha (the first letter of the Greek alphabet).
Many willing helpers assisted Norman and news travelled fast, one day when he looked up he was surprised to see Mr S R C Lavers, Labour MP for Barnard Castle standing in the workshop doorway. Mr Lavers had heard of the work and had come to see for himself. A few days later Vice-Admiral Sir Ernest Archer of Rosyth came to see the Coble. The third visitor was Commander J H Thomas of Cullercoats.
Norman Fairbairn designed the Coble and the helpers did most of the work - this was done in their spare time.
Not the least enthusiastic of the helpers was 75 year old Jack Urvin and other helpers were John Thompson, William Adamson, Clem Dunsford, Cecil Todd, Nicholas Todd, Jack Gibson and Frank Sayburn.