Article courtesy of Sandra Cardwell

Captain Charles Double, one of Fleetwood’s best known and most popular skippers of steam trawler, died at his residence, 90 Shakespeare Road, Fleetwood, on Tuesday night, after five weeks’ illness.

Captain Double, who was in his 71st year, was a native of Harwich. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to a fishing firm at the port and sailed in smacks engaged in line fishing. He next went to Bridlington, and for several years engaged in smack fishing, until he removed to Hull, where he was also employed as skipper of sailing smacks and subsequently of steam trawlers. He obtained his skipper’s certificate at the age of 21 and also held the Board of Trade’s Master Mariner’s certificate.

Captain Double came to Fleetwood 30 years ago, bringing with him the first fleet of trawlers belonging to Messrs Beeching and Kelsall to fish on the west coast.

During the early stages of the war, Captain Double joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves as a warrant officer, and after serving at Scapa Flow on the boom defence her was transferred to Penzance, where for a period he held the position of harbour master. He retired from the sea at the conclusion of the war.

Six of Captain Double’s sons served in the war, three in the army and three in the navy and two were killed. His wife died seven years ago. He leaves four daughters and five sons, all grown up, to mourn his loss. The remains were interred in Fleetwood Cemetary on Monday afternoon.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon at Fleetwood Cemetary. The Vicar, Rev. J. W Marsh, officiated. The mourners were Messrs, Rennard, Jack and Norman Double (sons), Harry Double, (brother), Albert Double (nephew), W. Stephens, Capt. E. Ash, W. Fish (ferry manager), and T. Roberts.

The sons and nephew acted as bearers. Floral tributes included wreaths from: daughters Beatrice, Elsie and Jenny, Lucy and Frank, Renny, Connie and family, Jack and Amy, Normal and Bell, Uncle Harry and family, Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Joe, Aunt Sarah and Perry, Aunt Dora and family, Mr. and Mrs, Walker, Buyers and friends on the dock, Daughter-in-law Edie and children, Mrs. Spencer, Arnold and Dorothy.