TOBY CARVERY HONOURS LOCAL HERO
01 April 2008
A pair of local history buffs are celebrating after winning a competition to name the new Toby Carvery restaurant in Gorleston.
David Hadingham of Bradwell and Linda Sedgwick of Great Yarmouth were both hoping to see their name in lights when they entered the Yarmouth Mercury’s competition to choose a name for the new Toby, located at Beacon Park, Gorleston. Both put forward ‘The Captain Manby’ as a suggestion and were thrilled to bits to discover they had won.
61 year old David, a semi-retired lorry driver, said: “I was over the moon when I heard that Toby Carvery had chosen to name the restaurant after our local hero Captain Manby. His inventions helped save hundreds of lives, but unlike Nelson, James Paget and Charles Dickens – other well known figures with Great Yarmouth connections – he never seems to get as much recognition!”
Linda, a 38 year old retail manager, agrees: “I’m really pleased that a local person’s name was chosen and due to this I’m sure more people will become aware of what Captain Manby did.”
Captain George Manby was a barrack master at Yarmouth during the Napoleonic Wars and is credited with inventing a revolutionary system of saving sailors from sinking ships. His method of firing a line from the shore to vessels out at sea allowed those on board to make their way back to safety via an aerial rope along which a man in a sling could be pulled.
Captain Manby’s office and home were at Bauleah House, still standing today on Nicholas Road, Great Yarmouth. After retiring as a barrack master in 1842, Manby moved to High Road in Southtown. He remains a popular figure in Great Yarmouth’s history.
James Richards, Manager of ‘The Captain Manby’, said: “We had some brilliant entries in from the people of Great Yarmouth and competition was fierce – but I think the judges got this one right. It’s great to have the pub named after someone who did so much good for the region.
“We’ve had a painting of Captain Manby specially commissioned for our new sign outside the restaurant – it looks fantastic and I really hope our competition winners are pleased with it.”
As well as going down in history, David and Linda each won a delicious carvery meal with all the trimmings for their entire family. Linda added: “I’m looking forward to bringing along the family and having a great family sunday roast – with no washing up afterwards!”