This film is part of Free

Sea Scouts and 'Morning Star'

The 'Morning Star' is restored to its former glory by the 28th Cardiff Sea Scouts at the city's Bute East Dock.

Home movie 1960 9 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales

Overview

MFV 8 (Motor Fishing Vessel), built in Aberdeenshire in 1942 for war service, was acquired by the Sea Scouts in 1960 and renamed 'Morning Star' (although in 1965 it was re-named 'Tawe SA 55'). It took the scouts – ex-pupils of the De La Salle (Preparatory) School in Cardiff – on camping trips to Dale in Pembrokeshire, as seen here, and on an epic voyage to Dunmore East in Eire. Brother Alfred (Herbert Guilfoyle) was Head of the school and founder/leader of the troop.

On Parents' Day, twin Sea Scouts Terence and Paul get a visit at the camp from their family: Mum Joan Mary (nee Oakey), Dad William, sister Carmel and little brother Martin (who later became a Sea Scout too). They all lived together in a house commissioned by William on King George V Drive, Cardiff, complete with a dark-room as he was a keen photographer and film-maker. He became Head of Finance at the Welsh Office. The epic voyage to Dunmore East was the Sea Scouts' final trip on 'Morning Star' – she was sold after the engine failed on both the outward journey (when the Royal Navy assisted) and the return journey, when a tug responded to the MAYDAY message sent as the boat was drifting in heavy seas.