THE DUCHESS OF YORK ran pleasure trips from below the Ship Inn. She had been built at Whitstable in 1897 and was licensed to carry 120 passengers. In March 1901 she was driven ashore in a gale and suffered £200-worth of damage. Such was her popularity that a local fund was raised and she was repaired, and she ended her days as a watch-boat for the Oyster Company at Whitstable. Her replacement wasa motor boat Albatross. The Duchess was run by two of the four Gipson brothers, Fred seen here on the left and William in the centre. Their mother following a tragic accident in 1887 raised the four boys and their sister. Their father (also Frederick), their brother Jesse and an Uncle Mr. Smith were drowned off Bishopstone when their small boat capsized. The widow Annie was obviously a capable lady, and after the disaster she was helped by a local fund. In later years she went on to successfully defend her bathing rights against first the local board and then the council. Perhaps the most famous of the brothers were Bert and his younger brother Cecil. In their day they won practically every coast rowing championship that was open to them. The family connection with amateur rowing was maintained through their nephews, the Conrath brothers, who were equally successful oarsmen in later years.

History of Herne Bay- credit John Hawkin's book