After Compton Castle left Kingsbridge Dominic Robb went aboard his 'ark' on two or perhaps three further occasions. The first occurred towards the end of her stay in Looe. It is hard to imagine a man of his years scrambling over her at that precarious angle on the slipyard, but Jean remembers it clearly.

Dominic was certainly aware and keenly interested in all the twists and turns her story took and read everything there was in the local press.

This, by the way, is a good time to thank Jean for all the newspaper cuttings she sent to me.

Dominic was very depressed at her state in Looe, and I can hear him cursing Mr Clayton. Yet, had it not been for Arthur, Compton Castle would have been broken up long before. So there is always another view and having heard from Clifford I have since warmed to Mr Clayton, but I doubt this thought occurred to Dominic. For sure he would not have seen Arthur as Compton's saviour.

I am relieved Arthur was not around when his two sons drowned. But here again there is another side. His poor wife would have had to bear the burden without him. How did she cope?

As for Dominic what he experienced in Looe stayed with him till the end. He likened her state on the slipway to the Crucifixion. He saw her abandonment as a breakdown between God and humanity. He knew what the symbol meant. Why was the world so blind?

David Worrlledge saw things differently. Two things were required in abundance. Money and determination. He had them both.

Hosts to oppose floating restaurant

LICENSEES at Truro (Cornwall) have signed a petition opposing the plan of a businessman, Mr. David Worlledge, to moor a 1910 vintage, paddle steamer, Compton Castle, at Lemon Quay, Truro, as a floating restaurant and pub.

Their opposition will reach a climax on March 2 when, through the local LVA, an objection will be lodged before the city's licensing justices to the grant of a licence.

It is stated that all Truro's licensees, including those who run the city's 18 public-houses, have signed the petition

The licensees consider there are already too many licences in Truro. There are about 40 places selling drink taking into acount off-licences, clubs and restaurants as well as the pubs

"There are too many for the trade available," says an LVA committee member

"This new one would be completely unnecessary as everyone in Truro is well catered for already."

Carrick District Council has given a sub-committee power to act on an amended planning application to moor the craft at Lemon Quay.

Compton Castle a 1910 paddle-steamer built at Falmouth, is likely to be moored soon on the Truro river as a floating restaurant and public house.

Carrick District Council has given a sub-committee power to act on an amended application to more the craft near the balustrade at Lemon Quay Truro.

This will put the ship near the sluice gates at the head of the river and will mean the Compton Castle in order to reach its mooring would have to pass under the road bridge -a tricky problem involving removal of the mast, funnel and one of the paddle boxes and paddle.

The river bank will also have to be reinforced to take the mooring and a foundation will have to be built to support the weight of the boat at low tide.

Mr Charles Penrose said the proposal was essential to Truro as a tourist enterprise Carrick council will be asking for a bond to cover the cost of removing the craft should the venture fail and Truro be left with a rusting hulk.

The Compton Castle is probably the last of her kind and her original steam powered engines are still in her.

Plans to torpedo floating night life

Publicans are to fight tooth and nail against a plan to bring floating night life to Truro.

Planning has already been agreed for an 80 year old paddle steamer to become a floating pub and restaurant.

But local pub landlords have engaged solicitors to fight a licence application for the venture.

Mr Mike Robson of The Globe,who is dealing with the application for the local L V A said every pub tenant in the city had signed a letter of opposition.

Al Heffer of the Navy Arms doubted if the plan would even get off the ground. He said the promoters of the idea had twice applied for a licence, and the applications had been withdrawn.

"The next one is on March 2 and our solicitor will be there to oppose it” he said.

Also opposing the scheme, and representing a number of other Truro residents, is retired seaman Mr John Cockle. He telephoned the harbour master at Salcombe in Devon where the steamer had previously been moored.

" He told me she had sunk at her moorings while she was being used as a floating tearoom some years ago" he said.

The floating pub is being promoted by a local businessman Mr David Worlledge who refuted the idea that the steamer could end up as a rusting hulk.