Great-great-niece of Whitby World War One heroes The Murfields pens catchy Me and Captain Cook song

Talented Kate Dowle, who is a huge fan of Whitby, was so sad about missing her planned holiday to the town earlier this year, she wrote a song about looking forward to being able to come here again.

The song, called Me and Captain Cook (The Ukulele Song), mentions how she enjoys the “amazing” views from Cook’s vantage point on the West Cliff, the beach huts, fish and chips and more.

Kate said: “The band decided to further their playing skills while locked down so we all ordered a ukulele online, then learnt how to play it and recorded our parts of the song separately and made a video.”

You can see a YouTube video of the song, performed by Kate and her band Brit Girl Abroad, who are based in Heidelberg, Germany.

Kate is the great-great niece of five Whitby sailor brothers, the Murfields – praised by the King for their First World War efforts.

Four of the brothers survived a torpedo attack in the Atlantic – their pictures are in the Whitby lifeboat museum on Pier Road.

Kate’s grandmother was born at the bottom of the 199 Steps where the Abbey tea room is now and her great grandmother Jinnie Pottas – sister of the Murfield brothers – died just two weeks short of her 100th birthday.

“It’s her we used to visit,” said Kate.

“I came to Whitby every year since I was a little girl.”

Me and Captain Cook (The Ukulele Song)

Hello there, James, upon the West Cliff’s edge

With a seagull on your head

You feeling lonely cos there’s no-one there?

Empty chairs and empty stairs

Prechorus

I should be there too

Taking in the view

Chorus

One hundred and ninety nine steps

See you Captain Cook

Coloured beach huts, friends in deckchairs

I’ll be there with you

Verse 2

I’d like to eat a Trillo’s 99 ice cream running down the side

I’d walk the pier then find the Magpie’s line fish and chips just so divine.

Prechorus

Whalebones frame the view

I will see you soon

Chorus

One hundred and ninety nine steps

See you, Captain Cook

Salty skin and wind tangled hair

I’ll be there with you