A reviewer of this exhibition stated – ‘There were, again, a few pastels. Two of these, by W. Eric Thorp ‘A late evening arrival, King George V Dock’ and (a delightful colour contrast) ‘Outward Bound – The Royal Daffodil’, were of great beauty.

M.V. Royal Daffodil was built in 1939 for trips to the continent from Tower Pier but on the outbreak of the second world war in September 1939, she was requisitioned by the government. Firstly, she was used to evacuated 4,000 women and children from London to East Anglia. In 1940, she was one of the ships that took part in the evacuation of the British and allied soldiers from Dunkirk. Over 7 trips, she rescued 9,500 men. On 2 June 1940, a bomb passed straight through her and exploded under her. The explosion caused a hole in the starboard side, and the Master ordered everyone to port side, which raised the hole out of the water and enabled a temporary patch of mattresses and wood to be applied. Royal Daffodil made it safely to Ramsgate and disembarked the evacuees. As well as the bomb, Royal Daffodil also survived torpedo and machine gun attacks.