Three old black-and-white photographs of one of Bermuda’s oldest cedar launches have revealed a unique glimpse of a bygone era in the Island’s maritime history.

The historic images, which are believed to date back to 1918 or 1919, show the maiden voyage of the Larkspur that was built by Ernest Gibbons.

Last weekend Mr Gibbons’s grandson, Robert, handed over the pictures to Barry Brewer who spent more than 2,000 hours restoring the vessel to its former glory in the early 1990s.

Mr Brewer was in the middle of talking to a group of people about the history of the Larkspur when Mr Gibbons handed over the photographs.

“It was one of those quite extraordinary, serendipitous moments,” said Mr Brewer.

“Robert had told me many years ago that he had these old pictures of the Larkspur, and I kept asking him about them, but he was never able to track them down.

“Being handed the photos at the weekend was an incredibly emotional moment.

“Having poured my heart and soul into saving the vessel it was amazing to be able to see what this boat looked like when it was first built and launched.

“The photos provide a fantastic insight into the history of this very important boat and are an extremely valuable piece of our Island’s maritime heritage.”

In 1991 the Mid-Ocean News reported on Mr Brewer’s efforts to save the Larkspur and return it to its former glory, after the broken vessel was found rotting on the muddy banks of Mills Creek.

For two years he spent every hour of his free time meticulously restoring the 21ft launch with Bermuda cedar.

For the last two decades he has sailed the launch around the Island so residents can enjoy seeing a rare living piece of Bermuda’s maritime heritage on the water instead of in a museum.

Dr Gibbons told The Royal Gazette: “I knew that my brother Leonard had passed me an envelope with the pictures in some three or four years ago and I had mentioned that to Barry.

“I had obviously put the pictures in a safe place, and had been unable to find them until three weeks ago when I was going through my old briefcase.

“As soon as I found them I knew I had to show Barry. He had always asked me about them.

“I had meant to take them to him, but then read that he was doing a talk about the Larkspur to the Gardening Club last weekend.

“I thought that would be the ideal moment to let him see the photographs for the first time.

“He was just ecstatic to see them.”