![]() “It makes tracing them and researching their lives very difficult.” A writer developsįrank Cowper first learned to sail while a student at Queen’s College, Oxford University, where he was studying law and history. “They were perpetually finding ways of avoiding the nature of their relationship to adhere to the conventions of the time,” said Sula. They spent the rest of their lives together, although not necessarily with each other at all times, but it is clear from Frank’s letters that he adored her and their children,” explained Sula.Ĭatherine became affectionately known as Muzzy her relationship with Frank Cowper never appeared in any official documents where she was referred to as Cowper’s niece, even on his death certificate. “She decides to take her chances with a man who loved life on the sea, leaving the area she knew to sail with him to Chichester. On a trip to the East Coast, Frank Cowper – then in his early 50s – met a young Catherine Cicely Kirby – Sula’s great-grandmother. Each section of the books contain pilotage notes, detailed chartlets and reflections from Cowper on the places he sailed to. Income from Cowper’s activities as an author, journalist and yacht broker were used to provide a lump sum to his estranged family he also made regular payments to them throughout his life.įrank Cowper’s Sailing Tours series helped popularise cruising, opening it up to all, not just the rich. The couple had seven surviving children under the age of 13, including their eldest son, Frank Cadogan Cowper, who grew up to be the last of the Pre-Raphaelite painters. Unconventional for the time, Frank Cowper was 41 when he separated from his wife, Edith Cadogan. Sula, along with her husband, Steve, is now piecing together the life of her – at times – elusive great-grandfather. ![]() He was fanatical that sailing should be popularised, that people should own a boat and enjoy the sea and enjoy what it could give you,” explained his great granddaughter, Sula Riedlinger, who has recently inherited a substantial collection of Frank Cowper’s papers, diaries, photographs, and original artwork. He regarded sailing at that time as being exclusive to the privileged few, with their large, fully crewed racing boats. In the old days, boats were there for a reason, they had a purpose and were not necessarily there for pleasure. “He looked at sailing in a different way. Yachtsman and author Frank Cowper popularised sailing for everyman.
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