The last of Kent’s traditional oyster fishermen has died aged 95.

Described as a “legend” by his fellow Whitstable seafarers, Bill Coleman is also credited with saving a rare sailing yawl, built in 1906, which became his working boat.

Bill was born in the town in 1929 where, as a boy, he would hunt rabbits and wildfowl, often from a punt he rowed along the shore.

It was while working as a shipwright at the Anderson, Rigden and Perkins shipyard, that he came across the yawl Gamecock in 1963 which was due to be broken up.

He set about restoring the 43ft craft on a shoestring with any materials he could lay his hands on, including an old lorry tarpaulin, with which he taught himself sailmaking.

Then, for four decades, he and his crew, including Andy Kennedy, Alan Grafham and Brian Hadler, went dredging for oysters.

They also joined traditional smack races and dredging matches on the rivers Thames, Colne and Blackwater, as well as supporting more local Swale and Whitstable events.

After the death of his wife Doreen in 2013, and on reaching the age of 84, Bill finally retired, and Whitstable Maritime took on the responsibility of restoring and maintaining the iconic Gamecock.

He died on November 14 and will be remembered with affection by the seafaring community.

Close friend Keith Dugmore who lives in the town says he was undoubtedly a “local legend” who lived for the sea.

“He was quite a character who could be quite abrupt until you got to know him,” he said.

“But he was fully committed to everything he did and very resourceful.”

Bill’s fellow crew member for many years, Alan Grafham, 72, who is organising his funeral, agreed.

“He could turn his hand to making just about anything and had been a blacksmith on the railways before he became a shipwright,” he said.

“I have many fond memories of our sailing adventures and trawling, often in very breezy conditions but Bill had great knowledge of the local waters.

“You could say he was the last of the traditional oyster fishermen because now the boats are far more mechanised.”