Worsley

Ted remembered one episode in his life in Minnesota, a big fire, and spoke of it to his eldest son Bill. It was also spoken of by William Lucas's friend William Chadwick, and it is recorded in an interview with the Little Falls Daily Transcript of March 17 1958 from an interview with Albert Chadwick: "A dangerous and tragic episode was the fire in the big barn (owned by the Tree Lumber Co) on the river bank near the end of the railway bridge. A fine barn holding 35 of the company's 175 or more horses. It was topped with a big flagpole. Mr Chadwick was crossing with his team and wagon to the "select" lumber yard in a drizzle of rain when he saw lightning strike that imposing flagpole, the fire running down it to the stacks of hay within. Calling to another driver nearby to save the horses, he tied his horses to a pole and raced for the barn, hoping to save the horses. The first he found was already dead struck by the lightning. the others wild with fear of the fire, fought to escape. Only 17 were got out, and those had to be driven away from to stop them from running back into the barn. Albert Chadwick was going back to try to save at least some of the harness when a boss stopped him. As they stood watching, out came aother horse its bridle burning, and its head close to the ground, where the smoke was'nt so dense. They stopped it long enough to extinguish the blaze on the bridle then it was off at a gallop across the track and away. They saw no more of it until the next day."

On return to Liverpool, Ted, along with his elder sister Lizzy, was drawn into the Fried Fish Shop empire of his aunt Sarah Jane. He is found in the 1901 census living with Walter Rowland, where his entry is: William Lucas, Nephew, S, 17, M, Eating House assistant, Worker, Isle Of Man. We can only guess why Walter falsely declared that Ted was born in the Isle Of Man, and that he was Walter's nephew.

Ted served in the army, and was gassed at Passendale. He was advised to take a job in the open. He became a shopkeeper running a general stores in Nottingham from which he did the deliveries etc.. Despite this disability, he lived to over 80 years of age.

His two sons took over the family business, keeping it going until the eldest was in his late seventies.

Anne Holland, his grand daughter, writes:

I smile when you say that Dad Dad (William Lucas) was told by his doctor to get an outside job and took up being a greengrocer- he had to get up at 5 in the morning and go to market where he met up with a few of his freinds. When he got back to the shop he unloaded ready to open the shop. Later in life he started selling produce direct to homes-together with my Mum (Joan Lucas).

Later on of course after the war Bill & Steve did this as well as having the shop.

A full accounmt of the steam trawler, Sulby, can be found on the website www.fleetwood-trawlers.info with photos and an account of her loss in November 1939 through enemy action.