David Besford was the skipper of the St. Patrick trawler in Lowestoft.
He is pictured above on 8 December 1977.
In 1985, the biggest and best landing ever made by a beam trawler at Lowestoft was recorded by Colne Shipping’s St Rose LT 300, with 509 kits to gross £32,402 after 13 days at sea, skippered by David Besford.
David Besford had previously been skipper of the Dominica around 1967 with Colne (East Coast) Shipping out of Lowestoft.
St. Patrick
The St. Patrick (IMO 7366180) was a stern trawler built in 1975 by Richards Shipbuilders Ltd. in Great Yarmouth, UK for Claridge Trawlers Ltd. Its length was 39 metres and gross tonnage 475 tons.
Stern trawlers are powerful vessels that are often built for hauling heavy catches up the stern onto the working deck.
It carried the name Gavina from 1986 to 1989.
The ship was converted to a standby support vessel in 1990, and was later named the Viking Vixen.
It was scrapped in 2006 in Esbjerg.
2 responses to “David Besford (skipper)”
Hi there, I sailed on the record breaking trip as decky learning with David – have you any pictures of the st rose ?
Thank you
Hi my brother , Ian potter was lost at sea whilst aboard the st rose in 1977, if any one has any further information on this it would be appreciated