My Grandfather Ethelbert, was a stoker on the Royal Yacht ‘Alexandra’ before the first world war. On a cruise up the Western Isles he was sent ashore with the 2 young Princes – Albert – the Queen’s father and Edward – the uncrowned- and told to amuse them. They went to a pottery where they made thumb pots and I still have his.  Yesterday a chance meeting and a little telling of this story gave the huge response of ‘my grandfather was on that yacht and I have a photo of the princes!! ”

How amazing that 2 of us meeting yesterday in the Trading Post in Lopen should have had Grandparents on the same ship in 1909!!