Baby named after historic Lydia Eva drifter in Yarmouth

Lucy Wade and Donovan Eke with Scarlett (4) and their youngest member of the family 9 week old Lydia who was named after the Lydia Eva boat moored up at South Quay in Great Yarmouth.Lucy's grandfather now in his 90s was involved in its sea trials in the 1930s.To recognise this and celebrate their passion for maritime heritage they have named their daughter Lydia.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2013)

And now a couple in landlocked Ingworth near Aylsham have continued the tradition by naming their new baby in honour of the fishing link that ties their two lines together.

Charlie Wade is pictured far left. He was involved in the sea trials of the Lydia Eva and now his great grandaughter has been named after the historic steam drifter (Image: Archant)

Baby Lydia Eke, now nine weeks old, was this week introduced to her namesake - the historic Lydia Eva moored in Great Yarmouth's South Quay.

For her parents welder Donovan Eke, 35 and student Lucy Wade 29, naming their daughter after the world's last surviving steam drifter honoured the boyhood involvement of Charlie Wade, 93, from Gorleston, Lucy's grandfather, who was sneaked on board during her sea trials.

Hobby fisherman Mr Eke said: 'I come from a fishing background. My side of the family were fishermen from Happisburgh and Lucy's were too. Her grandfather remembers the sea trials for the Lydia Eva. The fishing industry is in our blood.

'We go to Yarmouth's maritime festival every year and we always go on the Lydia Eva so we thought it would be nice to name her after her.

'I have been going to sea since I was 11-years-old with my uncle and I wanted Lydia to have a connection with the sea.

'When we took her on the boat they were really friendly. I explained that we had named our little girl after the Lydia Eva and the reasons why, and now it is almost as if we have made new friends. It is a proper old Norfolk boat and we are Norfolk people.'

Mr Eke who keeps a big scrap book of all things maritime said his interest had been sparked by the herring trips he took as a child surrounded by 'old salts' who knew the waters like the backs of their hands.

Nonagenarian Mr Wade also came from a fishing family and has clear memories of the sea trials and the boat's completion in Yarmouth, where the engine was made and fitted, he said, adding: 'His best friend's dad was in charge of the sea trials and it seems they were sneaked on for rides and he remembers that fondly. They used to go out regularly.'

Boat manager and retired photographer John Russell from Burgh Castle said he was 'surprised and delighted' when the family, including four year old Scarlett, brought baby Lydia to meet them.

To mark the occasion he presented the couple with a bottle of bubbly and a cake.

'The main reason they came I think was because of the link with the mother's grandfather. It is quite remarkable because the youngest crew member on the boat when she was built in 1930 was the cook who would have been about 12. I doubt whether any of the original crew survive so it is nice to find a link.'

The Lydia Eva was built by Gorleston fishing fleet owner Harry Eastwick and named after his daughter who was then 19. She died in 2005 aged 95 while the restoration was in full swing, knowing the boat would survive - although seafaring superstition meant she never stepped a foot on board.

Famous for being the world's last steam drifter her fishing career lasted only eight years - condemned by rising coal prices and dwindling catches, dropping from 300,000 to just 6000 on her last outing in 1938.

Keeping her in Yarmouth as a floating museum costs £25,000 a year and the charitable trust set up in 1990 struggles to raise half that. For more information, or to volunteer or donate call Mr Russell on 01493 780636 or visit the website lydiaeva.org.uk.