Fletcher, Frederick – Wine merchant saved from sinking ship

Frederick Fletcher (1831-1913)

FREDERICK Fletcher, who lived at “The Cottage”, Westgate (later the Westgate Club), took an active part in the public life of the town.

Grantham-born, his father John was a wine and spirit merchant in Westgate, while in later years, after his marriage, Mr Fletcher carried on a similar business.

He was educated firstly at a private school, then the King’s School.

His early career was spent at sea, and he was successful in securing his Master’s certificate.

He had been to almost every part of the world, and it was his last voyage home that had the most exciting incident in his life.

His ship sprang a leak, and went down some distance from land. Mr Fletcher, who was then captain, with his officers took to the lifeboats and were picked up without casualties.

After severing his business connection with his father, he opened the wine and spirit stores in Westgate, which he turned into a limited liability company, with himself as the managing director. He was a regular attendant at St. John’s Church, Spittlegate.

Until the 1990s a Westgate pub bore his name, before being variously named Market Cross, and Bar Code.