Meeting Robert Manry – A Personal Memoir – 2
by Miles Tredinnick
Firstly, there was a civic reception at the Princess Pavilion Gardens, a local park and tea garden where Tinkerbelle was proudly put on display under a covered bandstand. It was here that Robert Manry, with his family, presented the Mayor with Tinkerbelle’s ensign. And for those who missed this opportunity to see the famous sailing boat, a local garage and car dealership, Jennings of Falmouth, let the public view her inside one of their car showrooms off Kimberley Park Road.
Everywhere you went the talk was of Robert Manry and Tinkerbelle. Everyone had an opinion about how he had managed such a difficult crossing in such a small boat. It gripped the town.
But where was the great man himself? Well, Robert Manry and his family were staying at the Greenbank Hotel, one of Falmouth’s finest with its wonderful sea views looking towards Flushing and along Falmouth’s waterside. I was determined to get Robert Manry’s autograph and once again badgered my mother to take me down there.
As we walked up to the hotel, Manry suddenly appeared through a side door and stepped into the little rose garden where he signed my autograph book. He was looking relaxed and tanned, but had now exchanged his sailing gear for a smart grey suit and red tie.
Watching him from a nearby window was his son Douglas. I shouted out, “Hi”, and asked him if it was OK to take his photo? He said it was, so I did!
So that was that. Robert Manry had sailed from Falmouth to Falmouth in 78 days in the smallest craft ever at that time to make the crossing.
And on the 79th day, I had met him.
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The Robert Manry Project is extremely grateful to Miles Tredinnick for his memoir of Tinkerbelle’s arrival at Falmouth, Cornwall.
