Family plea for stories about Norfolk yacht's glamorous past

Photographer Douglas Burns used Goshawk for photo shoots in Fambridge on the River Crouch in Essex in the 1960s

Bob Hancock Models on Goshawk — Photographer Douglas Burns used Goshawk for photo shoots in Fambridge on the River Crouch in Essex in the 1960s

The owners of a once-elegant Edwardian yacht are hoping to find out more about its early history after she was destroyed in a "freak tornado".

Goshawk was built in 1910 on the Norfolk Broads and during the 1960s was owned by a photographer, who frequently pictured models on board.

By the 1990s, she had fallen into disrepair and was saved from her fate on a bonfire by Bob Hancock.

He is now keen to find out more about the vessel's earlier life and owners.

After rescuing the 40ft (12m) yacht, retired boat designer Mr Hancock kept her in his mother's garden in Horning, Norfolk, in the hope of finding someone with the time and money to restore her.

It is not known where this 1960s photograph of Goshawk was taken

Douglas Burns estate/courtesy of Bob Hancock Goshawk photographed in the 1960s — It is not known where this 1960s photograph of Goshawk was taken

However, no-one came forward and Goshawk became overgrown with weeds, becoming one with the garden.

At one point the yacht became home to five feral kittens - who were all rescued and later rehomed.

Goshawk was about to be burnt when Mr Hancock bought her in the 1990s

Bob Hancock Goshawk — Goshawk was about to be burnt when Mr Hancock bought her in the 1990s

"The boat was built by F Press at Wroxham, Norfolk, and graced the Norfolk Broads in the early 1900s, in the days when owners and hirers had paid crews," wrote Holly Hancock - Bob's daughter - appealing for information about its early history on Facebook.

"She was 40ft long and built of pitch pine, with laid decks and teak cabin sides and coamings [a raised border to keep out water]. She left the Broads - as did many of this type of craft - in the 1940s and was sailed offshore on the east coast for a number of years."

By the 1960s - and for several decades after - Goshawk was owned by a photographer - Douglas Burns - who used the vessel as a glamorous location for models on the River Crouch in Essex.

Photographer Douglas Burns used his boat for model shoots in Essex

"I worked on the boat as an apprentice in about 1963, when I was 16," said Mr Hancock, now 76.

But he did not get involved in the more glamorous goings-on aboard.

He knows little about what happened before the 60s and during subsequent decades until he heard the boat was essentially on the scrap heap and about to be burned on a bonfire.

He bought Goshawk, and transported her from Essex to Horning, with the intention of bringing her back to her former glory.

The dilapidated boat became to home to a family of feral kittens in the Norfolk back garden where it was stored

Holly Hancock Kittens on a boat — The dilapidated boat became to home to a family of feral kittens in the Norfolk back garden where it was stored

Boat designer Bob Hancock had a long-held dream of restoring Goshawk

Holly Hancock Bob Hancock on a boat — Boat designer Bob Hancock had a long-held dream of restoring Goshawk

"I was really too busy and I did try to find others to take her on," said Mr Hancock.

"But she'd have needed an awful lot of work - and very sadly, trees began to grow over the boat."

In October, his daughter said a "freak tornado" brought down two 50ft (15m) trees in the garden - and that sounded the death knell for Goshawk.

What had remained of her was now crushed.

In October, a storm brought down trees on top of the boat in the garden in Norfolk

Bob Hancock Boat after being hit by a tree — In October, a storm brought down trees on top of the boat in the garden in Norfolk

"All our hopes of restoring her were gone - that sealed her fate," said Mr Hancock.

"It is really tragic - and not at all how it was meant to be," he added.

He and his daughter are still hoping that someone will come forward with more information about Goshawk's earlier history, enabling them to complete the story of this once-beautiful yacht.