John Arthur Kemp Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth and Family

During and immediately after the Second World War Kemp and his mother, Lucy, lived in Essex and in the West Country. His father, Arthur, who was once Larry Lynx, racing correspondent for The People newspaper, died soon after the war ended. John Kemp married Monica in 1957, and they had three sons and a daughter. Before taking full-time responsibility for his schoolship scheme, he was involved in the construction of Bradwell nuclear power station, and was employed by Shell Oil and by E H Bentall and Co,[1] agricultural machinery manufacturers, at Maldon, Essex. He died in command of the sailing barge Thalatta, near the Bench Head at the entrance to the River Blackwater, in September 1987, aged 61.

John Kemp was born in London. Before he was old enough for full-time military service, John Kemp served in the Home Guard, wearing the capbadges of the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Essex Regiment. He was conscripted into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment in 1944, and served until 1946.

John Kemp (1926–1987) created and ran the East Coast Sail Trust, a charitable institution devoted to both character building for young people through education at sea, and preservation of Thames sailing barges. The Trust has been running for over 40 years, during which time many thousands of young people from Britain and around the world, have benefited from the experience that is provided. His earlier work on the preservation of Thames sailing barges was instrumental in the continued existence of the fleet today. He was also the author of three books and a prolific writer of newspaper and magazine articles.

Built at the naval yard in Harwich, the Thalatta was purchased in February 1906 by F W Horlock. Purchased by Kemp she became, from 1967, a sail training barge for children. In 1971 the East Coast Sail Trust was formed to provide 5-day educational cruises and to preserve the Thames sailing barge. The East Coast Sail Trust owned and operated two sailing barges (known in the Trust as schoolships) the 150 burthen ton Thalatta and the 200 ton Sir Alan Herbert, both coasting spritsail barges, rigged with ketch mizzens. The latter vessel was procured through an appeal made in memory of the famous humourist, novelist, playwright and one-time MP, A.P. Herbert.