Thomas Hood PICKNETT 1846

Thomas Hood PICKNETT was born on 31st May 1846 and baptised in St Peter's Church, Redcar on 20th June 1846. He married Mary Elizabeth HOLMES (1843 - 1929) on 2nd December 1871. They had six children:

Elizabeth Hood (24th August 1872 - 6th October 1904)

Thomas Maude (23rd September 1874 - 1948) m. Jane PRESTON

John (8th March 1877 - 9th January 1901)

Edmund (10th August 1879 - 9th January 1901)

Mary Holmes (6th October 1881 - 1962) m. John BLACKBURN on 24th November 1913

Ann Margaret (b. 11th April 1885) m. Arthur ROBINSON on 7th October 1912

John and Edmund both died, along with their uncle Richard PICKNETT, attempting to save the crew of the Honoria.

The quietness of Redcar was somewhat disturbed yesterday (Sunday) just after morning service by the approach of a sailing boat making for Redcar shore in a rather rough sea. To the most inexperienced it was evident the boat was running into danger, and people crowded to the water's edge to watch the result. There were also sturdy fishermen, who know so well the great danger of making for this coast under certain conditions of the tide, who were anxiously watching the same boat. Mr T. H. Picknett, who has charge of the Dawson Lifeboat House, was beaching his boats well up out of the tideway, when he caught sight of the sail making for Redcar. He at once sent his son to look at her through the telescope at the top of the Dawson boathouse, and report to him. The lad quickly returned to his father, and told him that from the way the sail was being handled those in the boat did not know how to manage her in such a sea. Mr Picknett, his son, and nephew, Allan Picknett, and Mr Wm. Raine at once ran the "Grace Darling" down the sands and launched her, pulling vigorously to meet the incoming boat before she struck the reef, but they were not quite soon enough, for the sailer had got on to the Offer Reef, near Coatham Pier, and stuck there till she was caught by a wave and placed in between two ledges of the same reef. It was only a boat like the Grace Darling, light and shallow, that could have rendered assistance in the condition of the tide, which was only a little better than quarter flood, and that assistance was rendered just in the nick of time, for the occupants of the sailing boat were making frantic efforts to get back to the open sea, and had they succeeded and had the wind filled the sail again they would have been in grave danger. The strange boat was a foyboat, belonging to Mr Boyles, of Hartlepool, and had been borrowed by Messrs J. Butcher, Rd. Burge, Wm. Brooks, Chas. Ord and John Lazenby for a run to Redcar. The Grace Darling was pulled alongside the might-have-been wreck, and took four of its occupants on board, when the foyboat was pulled off the reef and manned by two of the Redcar men and brought to shore. There have been many cases of this sort at Redcar which have never been reported, and where the rescuers have not received the least reward for their bravery; but this time, thanks to two visitors, Messrs Wiun and Bennison, a collection was made, and 20s handed to the brave rescuers. It was asked should there not be buoys to mark the track to Redcar Sands; but Picknett said they would be of no use to those who did not know the coast, and no one had a right to attempt to approach Redcar with the wind north-east in such a sea. A similar accident occurred on the second Redcar Race day. A party of five men came from Hartlepool, and were dashed on the long reef at the southern part of Redcar, and though the boat now lies on the sands a complete wreck, the same brave rescuers, with the addition of Mr Robert Dobson, saved their lives; and were rewarded by a present of the smashed boat for firewood.

          Mr. Thomas Hood Picknett was united with two sons and a brother whom he lost over thirty years ago in a wreck which he himself survived when on Saturday he was buried in the same grave. His wife, who died a short while ago, is also buried in the family grave at Redcar Cemetery.

          Mr. Picknett died two months short of his 89th birthday and was the oldest of three or four generations of the family which were were represented at his funeral. His funeral service was conducted in Redcar Parish Church by the Rev H Robson, vicar of Redcar.

          It was attended by members of all the old Redcar fishing families and representatives of the Teesmouth and Redcar lifeboats, the Coastguard Service and many other organisations. Mr. Picknett was the last surviving member of the old Zetland lifeboat.