The Island Yacht Club was blessed indeed with the long and fruitful membership of Jack Fenwick.

Sadly, last summer, Jack died after a short illness. I only found out because I said to another member, ‘I haven’t seen Old Jack lately…’

Jack was around the water all his life. In later years he spent many years delivering yachts and he sailed when well into his old age around Britain – well nearly: after repeated attempts to weather the top of Scotland, he and his wife Shirley traversed the Caledonian Canal.

Jack sailed his boat as often as wind and tide allowed. His last trip wasn’t long before an illness prevented him and which quickly caused his death.

I got to know Jack many years ago. It wasn’t until my own early retirement from sea that I really had the time to stand and natter.

Jack asked me to sign a copy of my ‘May Flower’ book: he remembered the barge on the Leigh and Chalkwell foreshore on summer visits during late 1950s through to around 1965.

Before that I had taken over the care of a set of drum creek buoys marking the port hand side of the entrance channel. This came about after I had come up with a plan, later implemented, for the club to have red and green pier lights at the beginning of the moorings, using new technology in the form of solar powered lights.

I met Jack on the club walkways, he had muddy boots on and was carrying a spade. I asked Jack what he’d been doing … he explained what and I said, ‘you shouldn’t be doing that…’ I asked what was needed. The upshot was, I became the ‘buoy man.’ Jack was always on hand for any advice needed.

As a lad, Jack, with a few mates, used to go aboard loaded barges and help ‘poke them up’ the creek when coming in with a cargo for Canvey Supply (The wharf lay just below the old club at its West Creek base).

Ah, Jack could yarn…

One of his long self-promised wishes was to come out across the swatch out of Havengore. Well, one summer, some moons back, Jack, with a band of sailing friends made an early morning departure from the club, sailing and motoring down the Swin to the Outer Crouch. The tide helped them up and into the R. Roach and thence to the Havengore Bridge, passing through a little before high water. I believe the return to base was made via Queenborough the next morning.

Jack was delighted! It was simple sailing…

Jack was a gentleman. One of the best. A jolly good person who cared.

I could go on…

The only memorial I have found is on the Canvey Island community archive (Canveyisland.org), I found this very sad indeed…

There is a short message penned by Valerie Deane, a longstanding member of the Island Yacht Club, an excellent secretary in the past and subsequently, a competent commodore of the club. She wrote:

‘Jack Fenwick passed away 3 weeks ago aged 92 a member of the Island Yacht Club since 1947 and a great sailor. He will be missed by all who knew him.’

Indeed. I am missing our conversations…

The curlew will forever cry out for you Jack, Rest in Peace.