Skegness Magazine

Skegness Film Star’s Mother Christens new Pleasure Boat

THE “ELIZABETH ALLAN.”

PICTURESQUE CEREMONY AT GIBRALTAR POINT.

The christening ceremony of the “Elizabeth Allan,” the new Skegness motor passenger boat which has been built by Messrs. Humphrey and Smith, of Grimsby, for Mr. W. H. R. Johnson, took place at Gibraltar Point last Saturday morning.

Mrs. A. W. Allan, mother of Skegness’s own talkie star after whom the boat is named, performed the ceremony at the invitation of the owner. The ceremony was attended by Coun, W. Hudson, J.P. (Chairman of the Skegness Council) and Mrs. Hudson, Mr, Geo. G. Dunkley (Skegness’s County Councillor), several members of the Skegness Council and many prominent Skegness residents with their wives and friends.

GOOD LUCK AND PROSPERITY.

In breaking a bottle of champagne over the starboard bow, Mrs. Allan said that she felt tremendously proud at being asked by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Johnson to perform the ceremony. She had regarded the “Elizabeth Allan” as her baby, and she hoped that with it Mr. Johnson would have as good fortune as her own little girl was enjoying in her career. She wished the new craft good luck and prosperity.

Mrs. Allan was presented with a bouquet by Miss May Johnson on boarding the newly-christened boat.

After the ceremony the many guests boarded the new boat which was lying in Wainfleet Haven, via a specially erected gangway, and were shown her chief features by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith. the latter one of the. partners of Messrs. Humphrey and Smith, the builders. All were impressed with her excellent layout and well designed details.

A number of guests afterwards attended an informal luncheon given by Mr, and Mrs. W. Johnson at the South Courts Hotel, when brief speeches appropriate to the occasion were made. Apologies for absence were read from the Rev, Canon A. H. Morris and Coun. Fred Cooper, Secretary of the Skegness Advancement Association.

Source: Skegness News 31st May 1933