Ramsey Bay

In this article we are back in the Isle of Man to recall the Ramsey Bay tragedy – which brought sorrow to Fleetwood and Ramsey.

It was on the morning of March the 8th, 1956, that the townsfolk of Ramsey first realised something was dreadfully amiss.

A body was seen floating off the Hydro (now the Grand Island Hotel). Lifeboat Thomas Corbett was about to be launched when news came that 4 other bodies had also been recovered.

It was sad news for the lifeboat crew as it was soon established that among the dead were Albert Cottier, the boat’s assistant motor mechanic and the cox’s brother Eric Lyall, who had been in the crew on a number of occasions and Arnold Brew, who frequently acted as a launcher.

The others were crew of the Fleetwood trawler Fleetwood Lady, which had anchored in the bay overnight.

Missing was the trawler’s Skipper – Mr Reginald Wright.

The tragedy is recalled in a history of Ramsey Lifeboats by W.N.Seybold.

He writes; It appeared that the crew members were being returned to their ship during the late evening of the 7th in a small local rowing boat when it capsized – unknown to anyone on shore.

“Once the tragedy unfolded a search was initiated for the missing skipper by the lifeboat and an air sea rescue launch.

It lasted all day – but to no avail.”

A Manx newspaper report is quoted and reads;

“The chain of incidents which culminated in disaster began when the Fleetwood trawler Fleetwood Lady came into the bay on Wednesday, 7th March.

“Robert Slapp of Fleetwood, mate of the trawler (belonging to Boston Deep Sea Fishing Co). States that the trawler left Fleetwood on Wednesday for the fishing grounds and anchored during the afternoon in Ramsey Bay. She carried a crew of 15.

“At about 4pm, seven members of the crew put off for the shore in the ship’s boat. This was primarily to allow three Manx members of the crew, the two Lyall brothers and Allan Bradford, to visit relatives in Ramsey.

“At about 7pm four of the crew members returned to the trawler, leaving Bradford, Eric Lyall and the skipper to return later.”

Around 10.30pm a small boat owned by the father-in-law of Mr Brew with the 6 men aboard began the trip back to the trawler.

“For most people in the town the first intimation that anything was amiss was the firing of the maroons summoning the crew of the lifeboat at about 8am.”

A little earlier police had been notified that a body was floating just off shore. Then the sad news came that 4 more bodies had been discovered on the beach.

“Coxswain Cottier did not know as he mustered his men that among the four was his own brother “Abby” Cottier.

“Abby was one of the most popular figures on the Ramsey quayside and ever since they were lads he and his brother have been fishing and operating their own boat.”

As the news spread an anxious group of people gathered at the lifeboat slipway – a husband stillness fell as the tragedy unfolded.

The Thomas Corbett was launched but only some bottom boards from the dinghy were found.

Coastguards searched the shore and an RAF air sea rescue launch was sent from peel.

The identity of the four bodies was established when they were brought to the motuary. Two had been found by the Hydro and two near Dog Mills.

First identified was Eric Lyall, senior, and his son Eric James, then Albert Cottier and Allan Bradford.

Later, at Dog Mills the body of Arnold Brew was washed up.

There were no sign of Skipper Wright. The 13ft rowing boat – which had carried the men the previous night – was washed up at Vollan Beach. It was minus its oars but was not badly damaged and there was no indication as to how the tragedy had happened.

Later, verdicts of misadventure were recorded at the inquests of five men whose bodies were recovered. The coroner was told the rowing boat had been “seriously overloaded”. The hearing was told that although the weather had been fine there was bound to be movement in the bay due to the wind. It would not have taken much movement to overturn the boat.

But exactly what happened remains a mystery!