THE OLDEST FISHERMAN

Death of William Saunders

We regret to record the death of Mr William SAUNDERS, the oldest fisherman of Folkestone, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning at the age of 89.

The veteran was well known in and around the Fishmarket, where he had lived all his life, being born in the vicinity. He had been active up to a few years ago, and in his prime was recognised as one of the strongest - if not the strongest - man aboard the Folkestone luggers, one of which he partly owned, his brother, Mr Richard SAUNDERS having the other share. The tales he used to tell of Folkestone as it was in his youth, and of the storms he had weathered at sea, were most interesting.

Among his many favourite stories, he used to recount one especially. This referred to the wreck of the Grosser Kurfurst, the German warship which collided when off this coast with her flagship, the Koenig Wilhelm, while on manouvres in the year 1878. The deceased was one of those Folkestone fishermen who went out to save life, and he rescued some fifteen of the crew, exposing himsel to danger in so doing.

The funeral took place on Thursday at the Cemetery. Skipper NICKS of the Fishermen's Bethel, conducted the service.

The chief mourners were Mr & Mrs FRYER, Mr & Mrs HALL, Mr & Mrs PHILLIPS, Mr & Mrs COOPER, Mr & Mrs ROBERTSON (sons in law & daughters), Kittie & John HALL (grandchildren).

The coffin bore the inscription "William SAUNDERS died August 15th 1915 aged 89 years".

The funeral arrangements were ably carried out by Messrs. Prebble & Spain.

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