A HANDSOME motor yacht once kept in Poole could have been the scene of a secret tryst by the woman who caused the 1936 abdication crisis.

Documents published only last year revealed that married American Wallis Simpson took a secret lover while she was having a relationship with King Edward VIII.

Car salesman Guy Trundle, also married, lived in Mayfair, close to a well-connected Old Etonian, who owned the 63ft long yacht Thordis.

Now its current owner, Graham Ellis, of Hereford, aims to restore the old wooden steam yacht and believes the key to its history lies in Poole.

Col Cecil Pierce, Commodore of Poole Yacht Club from 1928 to 1948, bought the Thordis in 1932. He was described as a "remarkable man, an old Etonian with connections in the highest circles including royalty".

Mr Ellis has a photo of the yacht taken in 1935, where the outline of two people sitting on deck can be seen, although mysteriously their identities have been obliterated on the negative.

He has an intriguing theory about who they may be and would dearly love to find out more. Of the relationship he said: "They had to keep it secret from her husband and Prince Edward. This Guy Trundle lived quarter-of-a-mile from Col Pierce's home in Mayfair."

Mrs Simpson and Col Pierce had mutual friends and Mr Ellis said: "There are so many coincidences coming along. I am very anxious to find out more about Col Pierce. He could be the key to the whole history."

The yacht was built by Camper & Nicolson at Gosport in 1909 and was a leisure craft until 1940. She was requisitioned as a patrol boat until the end of World War II in 1945 and taken to the Worcester area.

Thordis was converted from steam in 1932 by Col Pierce, who had a daughter, Daphne Collis.

Mr Ellis acquired the yacht from his father in 1988 and is keen to find someone to restore her to her former glory.

Anyone who can help Graham Ellis unravel the mystery of the Thordis can contact him on 01432 860608.