Shining a light on the Spectrum

Find out more about WK217 Spectrum, the boat that inspired our limited edition UK Travel Retail exclusive bottling.

You might remember that back in July we told you about WK217 Spectrum. Inspired by a Wick boat of the same name, it’s our limited edition UK Travel Retail exclusive bottling. 

Following that blog entry, we were surprised and delighted to receive a comment on our Facebook page telling us more about the boat.

Mr Barry Scollay said:

Weel there ya go! The Spectrum was my Great Grandfather’s drifter – he was skipper when they developed the Seine net principle. The Spectrum was built by Brooke at Oulton Broad for the Admiralty as HMD Spectrum in 1918, and then handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1920.

Mr Scollay explained she was first registered in Ramsgate as Spectrum R343, and then sold to a group of Wick fishermen – including his Great Grandfather William Stewart – in 1922, and registered as WK217. 

She was on harbour service duties during the 1939-45 war. And after changing hands a number of times, she was sold to Northern Trawlers of London, working until she was finally scrapped in 1953.

Like her namesake, a long-lasting finish, then.