Fane, Francis – Lord of the Manor died in yacht explosion

Francis Fane (1900 – 1947)

BORN in London and brought up in Fulbeck, Francis Christopher Fane had an adventurous career.

He was the second son of Col WVR King-Fane, of Fulbeck Hall .

He went to sea as a midshipman while still in his teens and served in the Royal Navy in the First World War and was a junior officer in the Iron Duke.

At the end of hostilities, he joined his brother Capt HWN Fane farming in South Africa for several years.

He returned to England and went into business but by the end of the Second World War he was an officer in the Merchant Navy, engaged in delivering small ships, gaining his master mariner certificate.

He married Joyce Hancock, daughter of the Rev Hugh Hancock, rector of both of Welbourn and Leadenham  parishes.

He hunted with the Belvoir and Blankley Hounds.

Then in 1947, he was taking an ex-Admiralty motor yacht Aarla –  originally called the Hecate built in 1903 – from Kyles of Bute to Lowestoft for a refit, when it blew up off the Ayrshire coast with the loss of all hands.

Mr Fane’s body was never recovered.

A board of inquiry later found the vessel was not seaworthy and owners Park Lane Court were ordered to pay £300 towards the costs.