Whiskers Gallery

Captain Collins of Brighton, with his family

Captain Fred Collins of Brighton, who ran three pleasure boats called the Skylark and was a familiar figure on Brighton Beach for sixty years. His cry of Any More for the Skylark became so famous that it became a national saying for pleasure boats. It is believed that the novelist Charles Dickens knew Collins, and went for a trip on the Skylark in 1867, commenting later on the captain's witty chatter to the trippers. Collins is seen here on the right, with his son, grandson and great grandson. The fleet continued to sail until just after the Second World War under his son, also named Fred Collins, although two of the three boats were lost at Dunkirk in 1940

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Rosa McDermott and her mother hearing a prophecy

Rosa McDermott and her mother hearing a prophecy from a Romany woman fortune-teller during a walk. They wear wide hooped petticoats. In the background, a couple rides along the coast at a seaside resort. (Gypsey's Prophecy on engraving). Handcoloured steel engraving after an illustration by John Leech from Robert Smith Surtees Plain or Ringlets?, Bradbury and Evans London, 1860. Leech (1817-1864) was an English caricaturist and illustrator best known for his work for Punch magazine

© Florilegius

Gentleman on an old nag and lady on a pony meet up

Gentleman on an old nag and lady on a pony meet up during a fox hunt, 19th century. Rosa McDermott sidesaddle on her pony and Jack Bunting shake hands. The groom gardener Old Gaiters watches from behind a tree. Who would have thought of seeing you. Handcoloured steel engraving after an illustration by John Leech from Robert Smith Surtees Plain or Ringlets?, Bradbury and Evans London, 1860. Leech (1817-1864) was an English caricaturist and illustrator best known for his work for Punch magazine

© Florilegius