The Roseacre was built in wood by the Macduff shipbuilders, George Innes & Son in 1919.  As a Standard Drifter she was named HMD Sheet Lightning.  She was not completed until 1920 and was immediately handed over to the Fishery Board for disposal as a fishing vessel.  Her principal shareholder was David Wood (Davie Doo), of 5 Shorehead, Portsoy, who renamed her with her distinctly local name. 

 

In 1902, David had purchased the Zulu Uphaz, BF837, which was built by W & G Gardiner in Cullen, and was fitted with an auxiliary motor. Co-owners were George Harthill, David's sister Ann’s husband, and John Slater.  David also had a share in the carvel-built Zulu Pansy, BF1541 launched 1904 from Stevenson & Asher, Banff.  His boat ownership spanned the transition from sail to steam.

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The Roseacre was involved in a serious collision, reported on by the Banffshire Journal, in 1927: -

COLLISION AT SEA - Another of those unfortunate accidents which take place from time to time at sea during fog, happened to one of the fishing fleet early on Thursday morning, about 25 miles from Wick.    The drifter “Roseacre” belonging to Mr. David Wood, Shorehead, had been fishing in the Moray Firth, and had hauled her nets early in the morning.  Having no catch the “Roseacre” was proceeding at slow speed searching for fresh ground when, about two lengths away, a steam liner, belonging to Aberdeen loomed out of the fog.  Had the same course carried on, the “Roseacre” would have been cut right through amidships, but every effort was put forth to avoid the collision which seemed impending, and the crew were so far successful, although the liner caught the “Roseacre” and cut into the stern almost carrying away that part of the vessel.  There was little or no wind, the sea quite smooth, and the crew set to work and patched up the ship’s wounds with canvas and other material and set a course for Macduff, which they managed to reach later in the day.

          The “Roseacre” though not very successful in the early part of the season, had been doing fairly well later and the crew were just about able to clear expenses, and it is unfortunate that this accident will prevent them from prosecuting the fishing further this season, and so manage to make some profit on their season’s labour.

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On retiring in 1936, David sold the Roseacre .to Peterhead where she was re-registered PD99.  When WW2 came, his son George Wood, later Provost Wood, operated a fish-merchants business from Shore Street, mainly smoking kippers and sending them south on the train.  Well into his retirement, it was father David’s custom to wander along each day to check that all was going well in the fish house!

 

Early in his career, David was recorded as a crew member on the Zulu Delightful, BF1992 of Sandend, in which he had a share.  The Delightful was owned by the McKay family of Sandend, and David’s wife, Maggie McKay, was a sister of the family. 

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David Wood died on 29th Jan 1944.  His obituary from the Banffshire Journal is below.  Margaret died 29th March 1961.  They are buried in Portsoy Cemetery.