Some places on the hull only one layer, the outside in this case, needs replacing.

The canvas which is sandwiched in the middle can be seen.

In the way of some of the fittings both layers have to be replaced.  In fact it appears that  the planking has rotted where there have been any fittings attached to the skin.

Ron Clarke with the  port inspection box.  It could be the starboard one as there are inspection wells on either side of the propeller tunnel.

Dave de Hart with the starboard inspection box (or port – see above).

Technically they are the inspection well plugs which will keep the lining of the prop tunnel smooth.

Editor’s Note : these are the details that I missed of December’s newsletter.

December Table Top Sale

Welcome to our Xmas newsletter which is again packed with NEMT’s latest information.
Soundings – restoration progress since the last newsletter.
Events – since last newsletter and in the future.
Members – new active members.
Waypoints – local interest.
Soundings.

Soundings – Henry Frederick Swan.

Tim cleaning up damaged skin.

In between other necessary activities – work progresses.  Tim West leads the programme of restoration.
The damaged areas of side planking have now been removed. This has necessitated both chevron layers being removed in some cases. (see pics).

Otherwise general clean-up has been constantly progressed by other members.

The BMC engine removed from the Lifeboat is almost fully overhauled, just awaiting the return of the fuel injection pump and injectors from specialists Auto Diesel.

< < After overhaul with fresh coat of paint

Lunchtime break at the stove manufactured by Dave Parker (on the right)

Contributions for future issues of the newsletter please to arthurhamilton158@btinternet.com
Events
Much needed Donations have been gratefully received from the following since the September Newsletter:

• Lightfoot Charity Family Trust (quarterly)
• Peter Arnold (monthly)
• Northumberland Fishing Heritage Trust
• Alec Renwick (monthly)
• MS Kington
• John Fogg

The trust has also held a number of events to help with raising funds:

• Friday 16th September – Gateshead Bridges 10 year celebration, sail past of a flotilla of local small boats. The trust was represented by the Rachel Douglas, Favourite and Sovereign (Seine Netter fishing boats).
• Monday 3rd October – Age UK promotion day at Temple Park Leisure Centre.
•  Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 19th October – Age UK open days at the workshop.
• Saturday 3rd December – “Table Top Sale” at the Trust. We eventually held our 2nd sale and this was once again very successful in raising much needed funds.

Members -  please see reminder for subs at page top.
Benefits of Membership – Quarterly newsletter
- Visit the workshop at any time Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Opportunity to take part in events

We have six new members during the last period including the four active members below:
John Fogg
Richard Schofield
George Richardson
Simon Ritchie
Additionally we have the ‘A’ Team of three enthusiastic teenagers, Luke, Leon and James, who manage to spend some time at the yard in between Sea Scouts activities.

Can you help?
Although the trust has gained a six members including four new active members this period we could do still do with some help.
An Electrician would be useful.

Waypoints  and Regional News
We are the North East maritime trust, so what is happening beyond South Shields? Can anyone contribute news of other things happening up and down our coast? What else is of interest that we are not covering? – Please let me know.

Arthur – arthurhamilton158@btinternet.com

Henry Frederick Swan
There is not a lot of visible change to the progress onboard the Lifeboat, but internal cleaning has virtually been completed by Charlie Lowden, Dave de Hart and Doug Miller, and the steel keel is now almost all cleaned-up and primer coated. This has been virtually a one man effort by Jerry Dudman. Thanks Jerry (with a little help from Ian Thomas and Dave de Hart).

New Bulkhead

Fitted bulkhead and stern bracket

Wonders of wonders we are now refitting some of the damaged woodwork inside the boat. A start has been made by making and fitting a new aft bulkhead for the engine room and the stern brackets in the shaft area have been painstakingly removed cleaned-up, primed and refitted.

The BMC engine removed from the Lifeboat is now currently undergoing overhaul. This was seized-up, but so far the only sign of problems has been a vast accumulation of gung and traces of water in the sump, which has generally gummed-up the engine bearings/shafting. The bearings have been cleaned-up and the engine is now turning freely. (note the technical engineering terms !)

Our newly established engineering department

However the reduction gearbox was found to also have evidence of water and the bearing is badly rusted and seized-up. The bearing and seals will have to be renewed.

Royal Diadem II

Checking shaft coupling alignment

The Royal Diadem II is now back in the water after a bit of touch-up of the anti-fouling and refurbishment of the reversing gearbox, which needed new bearings.
We have also fitted a more functional shaft coupling to provide flexibility.
Checking shaft coupling alignment
Arthur Hamilton with Dave Parker taking the boat for a short trip to check serviceability.
All now ready for Cullercoats Festival.

Foy Boat and Spring Tide

Daylight

A recent addition to the workload has been the repair of a Foy Boat with damaged hull planking.
Ralph Donnelly from the Foy Boat Association needed a repair to Foy Boat No.5
This was a rather wide beamed foy boat and needed some shifting of existing projects to provide space. Fortunately Peter, who is now becoming the expert in fitting new planks got to work and the boat was repaired and returned within the month, with four new sections of planking.
On Spring Tide the work progresses slowly – I think two more planks have been fitted by Peter Waugh in between repairing the foy boat and holidays.

Wreck Removed

Ex-Navel Pinnace and Rachel Douglas

For as long as the Maritime Trust has been established we have had the dubious pleasure of seeing the Hulk (complete with nesting seagulls) in the river alongside our own Royal Diadem II moorings. Well now it has gone!! Associate member Clive Taylor has taken part ownership of this pinnace with the intention of restoring it.

The Rachel Douglas (After its trip to Abroath) is seen here preparing to tow the Hulk to Tynedock.
Chains

Well this is the next part of the process of establishing moorings for the Trust’s boats. We have already put down marker buoys and now have the weights made-up ready for the first opportunity to get the moorings completed.

“Materialistics” Connection (Collection)
Continuing our association with the “Materialistics” (Ladies that knit and knatter) Dave Parker has built a ‘Hanzel and Gretal’ house for the ladies to cover with knitting for their latest project “Once Upon a Time” based on children’s literature. The full display will be in the gallery at the Customs House from 3rd Dec through to the end of January.

Events
Much needed Donations have been gratefully received from the following since the June Newsletter:
Tyne Foy Boats Association, Peter Arnold (monthly), Abroath Sea Fisheries Festival,  Alec Renwick (monthly), Dave Bell
The trust has also held a number of events to help with raising funds:
17 July – Tynemouth Lifeboat festival – unfortunately we didn’t find the time to get to this event. It is a pity considering the Henry Frederick Swan was a Tynemouth boat.
- Meeting with “Coble and Keel Boat Society” was a friendly convivial affair at a local hostelry, to talk about areas of common interest and the Trust is grateful to the Society for its welcome during the Cullercoats event.
Sat 6th August – The ‘Boatyard Bistro’ with various hot dishes (thanks to members of the Trust) and plenty of desserts (mainly supplied by the ladies of the Materialistics), proved to be a successful evening. (and the weather was kind) Thank you to all contributors.
Approx. 90 happy people enjoying the entertainment supplied by local vocalist / guitarist Jack Burness. There were many queries as to when we would do this again – so it looks like “a good time was had by all”.
Wed 10th to Wed 17th August
– Abroath, St Abbs, Eyemouth trip in Rachel Douglas and Favourite. I believe it was quite a successful trip received well by the different ports and with few hitches.
Satuday 17th August – Cullercoats day, with The Royal Diadem II. I believe this was quite successful
Saturday 3rd September – “Table Top Sale” at the Trust. This has been postponed until possible November / December due to commitments elsewhere.
Thurs 8th to Sunday 11th September – Heritage open days at the Trust. This was very successful and resulted in over 100 visitors and possible new members.
Friday 16th September – Gateshead Bridges 10 year celebration, where we took part with Rachel Douglas, Favourite and Sovereign.

Members
The trust now has membership totalling 93 with 17 actively participating in boat restoration.
Membership fees are due in October and membership could be boosted if all lapsed members (not included in above total) were to re-join and aid the trust. Tim West would love to hear from you all.
Benefits of Membership – Quarterly newsletter
- Visit the workshop at any time Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Opportunity to take part in events
We welcome onboard new active members: Brian Teale and Alex Thurkettle

Regional News
We are the North East maritime trust, so what is happening beyond South Shields? Can anyone contribute news of other things happening up and down our coast? What else is of interest that we are not covering?

Please let me know at:  contact@nemaritimetrust.co.uk

Arthur

Tabletop Sale

Soundings - restoration progress added since last newsletter.

Maritime Tales -(new feature) river /marine related stories..

Events – since la st newsletter and in the future

M embers – new active members

Way points - local interest

The Galley Slave - interesting recipes

The Resident Poet – Dave de Hart

Thank you for your continuing support

Soundings

Henry Frederick Swan

Tim West and Arthur Hamilton have removed the propeller and shafting, which is now cleaned-up and inspected. Similarly the drop keel and housing have been shot blasted, painted and all these items are now stored away for the time being. I think it will be a long time before we get around to refitting these items.

Additionally Tim and Arthur have extracted some of the bolts keeping the keel and base structure in place. This in itself was a large exercise as the stern copper bolts were up to 28” long and the keel steel bolts were badly corroded.

Engine Bearers

The internal copper sheeting surrounding the fuel tanks and engine casings has been stripped out revealing the woodwork, which has now been substantially removed. They certainly made a thorough job of building this boat – Copper nails everywhere and brass screws (every 2”) stitching all the woodwork together.

All this work has revealed the inevitable rotten bits of wood and almost non-existent steel brackets (especially in the hull bottom areas).

Charlie Lowdon soldiers on cleaning up the hull internal woodwork – a painstaking but necessary job.

Repairing the Whaleback

The stern whale-back with the ribs formed in the steam box and fitted by Brian Fenwick

The steel keel is currently being chipped of all rust scale and needle-gunned to a fine finish by new members Jerry & Ian, who look a bit like miners at the end of the day. Well they did say they came to the trust to muck-in!

The forward stem structure has been partly re-manufactured by Dave Parker and temporarily set in place to allow templates to be taken for the upper section.

So we carry-on and try to keep focused on the Lifeboat as a priority job, but other issues keep arising to keep us otherwise occupied.

Read on

Wren

A recent addition to the workload has been the tidying-up and painting of a sailing boat the Wren.

Wren rubbed down for inspection

Following a frantic workshop shuffle! The “Wren” was wheeled in.

Paint work below the water line was in a very poor condition and necessitated burning back to bare timber. Much of the original caulking had become loose and required hooking out and re-applying.

A full paint system was applied following International Paints specification resulting in a superb finish.

Fred was delighted with the job done and the fact that the Wren was ready for the bank holiday weekend sailing at Holy Island.

We hope to see her here again next year for a wash and brush-up.

Wren ready to go home

Contributed by Dave Parker

Spring Tide

Work progresses slowly – partly due to Peter Waugh being left mainly on his own to do the work while calling on help when he can get it. Great job Peter – don‟t weaken.

Sovereign Launched

The fourth of April saw the launch of Sovereign from Fred Crowell‟s South Shields slipway, after ten months of extensive rebuilding.

It had been a tremendous task getting the rotten vessel transformed into a smart and seaworthy museum piece. Over 5000 hours of work were needed to restore the boat after the ravages suffered in seventy three years of continuous work. Sovereign was so bad, it was amazing that she had not sunk.

Work included straightening and reinforcing the keel, replacement of 2000 4” spikes, new planking in several areas, recaulking, repair of rotten frames, overhaul of mechanical equipment (pumps, steering gear, pipe work, replacement engine etc.), deck repairs, almost complete new wheelhouse (only the windows and door survived), new capping rails, new masts etc. etc. Apart from the boat suffering from the usual wood rot, there were several areas suffering from infestation by wood boring beetles, many of them still happily munching away until the last ones (we hope) were discovered in March.

Fred Crowell has done most of the work, with the assistance of three regular volunteers. His patience has been sorely tried at times by the seemingly endless problems but he never lost his interest in the project, and was very understanding of the financial difficulties that developed after an expected grant fell through. He made every possible move to save money, scouring the area for good second-hand materials and finding new methods of working to save expense, but he would not compromise on quality.

Sovereign has been restored to her 1950s condition. Her pre-war condition as a varnished vessel would have been beautiful but the heavily bruised condition of the external woodwork made this impossible to achieve. The only shortcoming in the presentation the vessel is that she has a trawl winch rather than a proper seine net winch with rope coilers. Perhaps an authentic winch will be found some day and fitted, to complete appearance of this classic fishing vessel.

A little outfitting work is still needed to complete the vessel: the crew accommodation in the forecastle is yet to be finished and a couple of spars need to be fitted.

Sovereign now spends most of her time in St Peters Basin but we expect she

will be seen up and down the coast in the near future.

Contributed by Peter Weightman

Chains

Whilst everything else has been happening we have also taken delivery of 1.75 tons of chain for the Trusts moorings. This has been cut-up into 60ft lengths, and a strenuous job by many hands, helped to get into the yard.

Maritime Tales

River Tyne Circ 1960

Do you remember the days when the ships were three deep in the middle of the river.

During 1958 when I was at the tender age of ten my father was serving on the flatties* (South Eastern Gas Board) from Shields to London and I remember my father sculling me out to the “Mitcham” and spending a memorable day onboard.

From there it was inevitable that I joined the merchant navy, along with my two brothers. The only difference being that I served as engineer (oil) and the others were all deck officers (Water).

My father probably had the Merchant Navy career that was very typical of that time. Having entered as a Mess Room Boy at 17 years old (1929), he progressed through the levels (ranks so to speak) of; ordinary seaman, able seaman, 2nd mate and finally 1st mate at the age of 27(1939). I think quite an achievement for those days. He never managed his masters probably due to the war and supporting a family of four kids.

My father joined the MV Ross in Newcastle Nov 1939 and served a continuous trip until March 1942 (28 months) sailing to Australia and USA. Although he touched the UK a few times in this period he rarely got home.

I know he spent part of the war years on Mediterranean convoys and told me the worst part was going on the bridge to do his morning watch and seeing a number of burning hulks on the horizon, the convoy being decimated during the night.

Another story he told me was being on the 4 to 8 anchor watch in Gibraltar Harbour and seeing a flashing light from the Spanish side. Thinking it was a signal he endeavoured to decipher the Morse message being sent. He eventually discovered by the early morning light that it was in fact a tree branch wafting away in front of a rogue street light.

Having served foreign seas for a number of years he ended up sailing home trade but even then he did 9 month trips with very little home leave, sometimes to sign-off one ship and re-sign on a different ship the same day. This was the life with Stevie Clark‟s, SEGB, etc.

* Flatties – colliers specially designed to sail up the River Thames under all the low bridges.

Contributed by Arthur Hamilton

Does anybody else have similar memories or river tales of a maritime nature to tell?

Contributions for future issues of the newsletter please to hamiltonme@btinternet.com

7

Events

Much needed Donations have been gratefully received from the following:

The Barbour Trust                                   Fred Holt

Lightfoot Foundation (Quarterly)             Dave Parker

Alec Renwick (monthly)                           Arthur Hamilton

Peter Arnold (monthly)                            Miss KM Eccles

Materialistics

The trust has also held a number of events to help with raising funds:

5th May – “Pie & Peas” Quiz night which proved successful and a fun social evening.

21st May – “Table Top Sale” at the Trust was very successful, but also left us with a lot of saleable items‟ to the extent that we consider having another similar event later in the year – when we can fit it in.

28th May – Asda supermarket bucket collection – went well

29th/30th May – Tanfield Railway holiday weekend participation by holding a stall was not so successful partly due to The Northumbria County Fair at Corbridge the same weekend. However thank you Tanfield for the opportunity.

17th June – Morrison‟s Supermarket bucket collection – went well

And in the near future

17 July – Tynemouth Lifeboat festival, where we hope to include our coble “Royal Diadem II”

And possibly:

August – (back by popular demand) at the „Boatyard Bistro‟ a reprise of last years Bar-B-Que. However this time it may be more of pans of Chilli, Curry, etc. instead

September – Heritage open days

- Gateshead Bridges

- Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival

Members

We welcome onboard some new active members:

Doug Miller

Jerry Dudman

Ian Thomas

Waypoints

Regional News

We are the North East maritime trust, so what is happening beyond South Shields? Can anyone contribute news of other things happening up and down our coast? What else is of interest that we are not covering? – Please let me know. Arthur – hamiltonme@btinternet.com

The ‘Galley Slave’

Pan Haggerty

Ingredients:

3 large potatoes a little dripping seasoning 2 medium onions 4 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese

This seems like a basic menu. I remember my mother including any left over meat from the Sunday dinner

Method - Peel potatoes and onions, cut in very thin slices and dry the potatoes in a cloth. – Make the dripping hot in a pan, put in a layer of potatoes, then of onions, then cheese and another layer of potatoes. – Season each layer with pepper and salt. – Fry gently until nearly cooked through, then either turn in the pan or brown the haggerty under the grill.

The Resident Poet

On the Money Trail

When the NEMT first started repairing old boats

Most weeks you would hear the same old grouse,

We need paint, timber, new lathes, drills

How to pay for all this, when you‟re as poor as a church mouse.

Getting on they may be, but they‟re far from being senile

They certainly don‟t use buses, the cars they use cost a bob or two,

Well with financial acumen, helped by pie and pea suppers, quizzes

Table top sales, the finances just grew and grew

Arthur, just like the „Minders‟ Arthur, is our brass man

He‟s found that brass or copper on the market is up a hundred fold,

Now we collect copper pipe, screws, manifolds,

Old boilers, he tells us this stuff is just as valuable as gold.

Just mention you need some piece of exotic equipment

And without it work on the lifeboat can stop so very quick,

Timmy our bag man (money man) is off like a rocket to find the part

Finance no problem he sits on more money than the gnomes at Zurich

Some that work there (or try to) are surely rolling in dosh

Take Charles for instance he comes to work in all weather,

Driving a gold plated motor, which when new has cost an arm and a leg.

And he‟s forever telling us, he hasn‟t two pennies to scratch together.

Then there‟s Dave P, his black hat gives him the nautical look

He looks broke, he‟s not. He comes from a long wealthy line,

Motors down on a Wednesday checks that all are working well

Then off to his yacht, for a cruise up and down the Tyne. One must not forget the Plumbers, Boilermakers, Joiners to mention a few

These give no secrets away, their money is kept in a clenched fist,

If you think I exaggerate and I‟m not telling the truth

Buy the times newspaper when they print Britain‟s rich list

As you see they are called the North East Maritime Trust

With their financial acumen, their bank balance just doubles

As I said before with quizzes, pie and pea suppers, open days

NEMT should stand for Never Ever any Money Troubles

Contributed by Dave de Hart

Can you help?

Although the trust has had a few new active members this year we could do still do with some help.

But this does not need to be physical work – somebody who likes doing marketing / fund raising / community liaison / event organising would be an asset.

Our present Company Secretary providing a much needed service has agreed to stay with the Trust for a bit longer, until (if and when), we find somebody else capable and willing to take on the role.

If you think you may be able to help or can recommend someone please get in touch – write to NEMT at Wapping Street or email contact@nemaritimetrust.co.uk

Welcome to our end of year newsletter which is again packed with NEMT’s latest information. Please remember our Soundings which was added in the last newsletter with a focus on current events, and Waypoints for future developments.

Also check out our new Northeast Only Recipes in The Galley Slave at the end of this newsletter!

Again, it’s always a pleasure to write about the progress and hard work by our Friends and supporters who are so important to NEMT.

Soundings

NEMT has continued to celebrate its partnership with the Customs House by setting up an extra attraction at this year’s Knitted Victorian Christmas show which then moved to a Harrogate Show on 25 to 28-November. This included making the basic frames, a sleigh, fully working grandfather clock (which kept perfect time) and reindeers. Also included was the making of wooden plinths, numerous stretcher frames and setting up of the South Shields gallery shows “Grand Tour” of Salma’s Dream.

The knitters had formed their own group called ‘The Materialistics’ and NEMT was well represented too, with prime position given in the foyer of the grand hall. On Sunday when it was time to pack up, the snow started and there was about 4inches in a couple of hours. Everything was grid locked and Harrogate had come to a halt. In fact we were even offering hire of the sleigh to get home!! Everything had to be broken down and carried across a main road through the traffic and snow to our van which was driven by Tim West. It was an epic journey home….what should have taken 2hrs became 5 and a half. The Sleigh and Santa then had to be reinstalled into the Customs House shop the next morning and it’s on show there till next year.

Property Repairs – Not the most popular of jobs, but everything else depends on keeping the workshop in good condition. The roof gutters have been in very poor condition for a long time but Tim West and Arthur Hamilton have been leading on overdue repairs. This follows work which was carried out a couple of years ago to seal leaks but time had taken its toll. Tim and Arthur have now removed the troublesome old sheet metal rainwater goods, which have been replaced with new plastic materials fixed in time for the winter weather (good timing).

Henry Frederick Swan

Work continues, with a lot of unseen work going on. Tim West has been preparing extensive administration and planning schedules of the work, seeking potential suppliers, estimating the time needed and finally looking at where to source the funds required. Arthur Hamilton has been checking the list of steelwork looking into material costs and getting estimates.

One outcome has been the production of a very smart fundraising leaflet to inform everyone of our scheme. We hope this will encourage the public to put their hands in their pockets and help finance the project. Tim’s document will also act as an introductory piece when approaching grant providing bodies.

The rudder was recently stripped down and then the stern whaleback removed. The latter was a difficult job as it had been built in situ and the fixings could not be withdrawn without damaging the planking, so all screws and nails had to be cut through between the faces of adjacent timbers, a very slow and careful task. This was completed successfully so that the whole unit is now on the workshop floor. The drop keel housing and keel were also removed, hard and heavy work.

Brian Fenwick has continued with the work of stripping out and cleaning the inside of the hull, carefully removing defective components for manufacture of replacements. Work started under the forward deck and has continued back to the fuel tank area. This is no easy job, being very confined in places – far from comfortable – but necessary.

Removing the drop keel housing and keel

Spring Tide

Charlie Lowdon and Peter Waugh have been concentrating their efforts on replacing defective timber on Spring Tide. The keel has been removed so that some bottom planks can be replaced and new timber has been inserted in the lower stem. This little salmon rowing boat from Whitburn is rapidly progressing towards a successful completion of the woodwork element.

New Apron  and above,  New Planks

Sovereign News

Sovereign entered Fred Crowell’s boat shed (next door to ours) in the summer and extensive restoration work has been undertaken in the last few months.

Work started with the hull which suffered from loosening of planks. The keel was found to be flexing at a scarf joint, causing a lot of movement over a large area. This has now been repaired and the whole keel fitted with steel bottom and side plates. The rotten rudder shaft has had to be replaced. The hull planking has been re-nailed with nearly 2000 new spikes, several planks replaced, joints caulked and filled. The tops of frames near the stem suffered from worm infestation and new ends have been scarfed on. Damaged areas of deck have been replaced. The old engine has been removed for replacement by a newly overhauled one of the same type (a Gardner 6LW). The gearbox off the old engine has been dismantled for reassembly onto the replacement; quite an extensive job and nothing like the simple arrangement on an automotive application. New fuel tanks have been manufactured to replace the old leaking ones.

The above is just a very brief description of the work that has been done to bring the vessel back to good order and more is to be done over the winter.

The project has been hampered by the failure to secure an expected grant from one of our national organisations. Fred has gone to great lengths to find ways of making the job achievable in spite of major funding problems. Materials and methods have been changed to make the works possible with the minimum impact on quality or appearance.

Fortunately the National Historic Ships Committee contributed an emergency sustainability grant for the hull work and the Port of Tyne Fund came to the rescue with sponsorship to make it possible for the boat to work again by supporting the engine replacement. Beyond these supporters, the vessel has relied on funding from the trustees of the Northumbrian Fishing Heritage Trust, who are all NEMT members. It is hoped that Sovereign will be ready to tour events before the summer of 2011.

Left, Fred  caulking the joints and above, Old engine (left) and replacement engine (right) in NEMT’s workshop whilst the gearbox is transferred.

Waypoints

Regional News

We are the North East maritime trust, so what about what is happening beyond South Shields? Can anyone contribute news of what is happening up and down our coast? What else is of interest that we are not covering? – Please let us know.

Can you help?

Running the Friends and the Trust is in the hands of comparatively few people and we could do with some help, but this does not need to be physical work. We are looking for someone who can put together this newsletter – do you fancy being editor? We are also looking for a new Secretary; our present secretary has done a fine job for several years but has a lot of pressure due to a change of personal circumstances so a successor is needed. If you think you may be able to help or can

recommend someone please get in touch – write to NEMT at Wapping Street or email peter_weightman@talktalk.net

The ‘Galley Slave’

Company No. 5562737              Registered Charity No. 1117855 

www.nemt.co.uk              North East Maritime Trust 

          August Newsletter 2010                       ****************************** “Photos under development”********************

Welcome to our August newsletter which is packed with NEMT’s latest information. Also please check the new headings of Soundings which looks at current and Waypoints for future developments.

It is always a pleasure to write about the progress and hard work made by our band of Friends and supporters who are so important to NEMT, without you, we would not exist.

Soundings 

Boomerang Boat Museum

NEMT is proud to be associated with Australia and Norway, aiPotu and the unusual sight and shape of the boomerang boat which is now on show at Wapping Street. The Boomerang Boat was made at the 16th biennale of Sydney 2008  by artist duo aiPotu and consisting of the two Norwegian artists Andreas Siqueland and Anders Kjellesvik, who restored the boat and searched for a suitable home in Scotland, Wales and England including the Newcastle area. South Shields became a natural point of departure for them. Going by coast, a series of possibilities were investigated. But they just kept on coming back to North East Maritime Trust, a place ‘where we just love old boats’ and did not need much time before the Trust decided to take on the responsibility of creating a new home for the stranded vessel.

For more information about aiPotu, please visit www.aipotu.org

While the boat is definitely very unusual, it has a more serious, relevant history and build using traditional skills now in decline, even down-under.

                        
        But I want to go over there!                                           I’ve had enough of this!

        Which way are you going?

Off to Hartlepool’s Tall Ships Festival on Friday 6^thAugust.

                    Three Men in a Boat  ( Click on Photos to enlarge)

Royal Diadem II (Royal Crown) being made ready to sail to Hartlepool, shown here at her new moorings just beside NEMT.

RD II has successfully undergone full restoration over the last year and looks wonderful in her traditional colours.

This Heritage Lottery funded project was also supported by International Paints with open days and public donations also helping to raise the crucial finance required. We wish to express thanks to everyone concerned.   

A booklet outlining RD II’s full history and restoration is also available, just ask.

Funding for the trip to Hartlepool was provided by the Community Area Forum South Tyneside.

Shown from right to left; Rachel Douglas, Favourite and Royal Diadem II on their way to Hartlepool.

The North Shields Lowlights and Highlights are clearly shown almost in line and just above Royal Diadem II.  

Tide and weather conditions created a very ‘interesting’ trip with a reasonable swell proving the value of well made traditional boats. 

NEMT vessels were the only traditional working boats to represent Tyneside and Northumberland at this festival.

        Royal DiademII looking her best  (Click on image to enlarge)

The festival was a great showcase for NEMT and we made full use of our position which was located at the marina near shops, cafes and a pub too.  It is estimated that over five hundred people came along to admire our boats, ask questions and make donations. Royal Diadem created a great deal of interest with everyone including fishermen young and old, who gave us the benefit of their memories and history of local fishing traditions.

            Nearly there! At Hartlepool .                                    “ Who tied that Stop-Knot?”            

Our outward and return journey were each completed in about four hours with rather unsettled conditions to contend with. Rain and a big swell helped the tall ships away and us too, but that was no problem for our hardy sailors who took it all in their stride, after finding the end of rope!

Many thanks go to our Chairman Mr Peter Weightman

and friends, for the inclusion of our associate boats   

   Favourite and Rachel Douglas at the festival         (Click on image to enlarge)   .                 

_________________________________________

Waypoints

Education for young and not so young is a very important part of what we are doing at NEMT.

To take this forward, Tim West has approached over seventy local schools leaving booklets which give an overview of northeast maritime heritage and lifestyles. It also explains what we are about while emphasising the Royal Diadem11 and Henry Frederick Swan restoration projects.

Lifeboat ‘Henry Frederick Swan’ is about to take centre stage in our restoration program. This National Historic Ships registered vessel, which is included in the Historic Fleet Register number 2047 is important to our local maritime history. She is also recognised as the longest serving UK registered lifeboat and was one of the first self righting, sailing, pulling (rowing) and motor driven lifeboats of her time when put into service in 1917.

Work started before our current restoration projects and included the careful cataloguing, photographing and removal of hundreds of items, engine, fabric floatation boxes and fittings etc.

Internal and external cleaning of the hull which also included the removal of nearly 100 years worth of paint and grime was also essential, to allow Fred Crowell access for the preparation of a full condition survey. This has now been completed, ready for a costing survey to start in August.

Friends are central to NEMT’s success and very important to our healthy future. Progress, a busy workload and change of administration have all helped to delay our request for membership renewals this year. Therefore, we are changing the membership renewal date for Friends to the 1^st October each year. This will be pro-rata for new members who join NEMT throughout the following year. The new ‘Friends’ secretary will be writing to all members in the near future.

For example, someone who joins NEMT Friends in April will pay just £5.00 until 1^st October when the full £10 annual fee will apply.     

We hope this new and simplified membership will help to streamline the membership scheme.

Also note that all Friends benefit from unrestricted access to events (with consideration to any health and safety issues being paramount) Learning to work with wood, special low cost workshop facilities (with agreement from NEMT board members) Newsletter, sail training and availability of certain craft, with agreement. You can also be confident that NEMT is promoting and maintaining the northeast’s valuable maritime heritage, because “We Just Love Old Boats”

How to find us:

By Ferry from North Shields, Turn left at the main road after leaving the ferry landing. Pass the Alum House pub on your left (although I do recommend the excellent selection of real ale!! Don’t stay too long).

 Take a left at the next roundabout and cut through the housing, keeping the river on your left.

In a couple of minutes you will reach “Comical Corner”(by the Sea Cadet Headquarters) and we are 50yards on the left.

                                                                  North East Maritime Trust

                                                                  Fisherman’s Workshops

                                                                      2/3 Wapping St.

                                                                        South Shields

                                                                        Tyne & Wear

                                                                               NE33 1LQ

Friends of NEMT 

 Dave Parker,

dave.a.parker@talktalk.net              Tel.    0191.5295381.

                                                         Mob.  07779785666

Other contacts :

Peter Weightman

Chairman NEMT.      peter-weightman@talktalk.net

Alec Renwick

Hon Sec.NEMT        alec_renwick@yahoo.co.uk

                                        North East Maritime Trust

 Company No. 5562737    Registered Charity No. 1117855

     Newsletter Dec. 2009

Royal Diadem.II

The restoration of the Royal Diadem is progressing well although we do need all the hands available to maintain our schedule.

The stem and forward keel was found to be in a very poor state but has now been rebuilt and now ready for nailing up. I think the following photographs can explain our progress better than my long winded description!

 Everyone’s skills and boat building techniques have developed immensely,

 producing a confident and proficient working team. Our aims which the North East Maritime Trust set out with of learning and retaining these skills, can be clearly seen to be developing and we can all now feel proud of our achievement. Come and see for your self as I’m sure you will be suitably impressed.

“Spring Tide”

This 16ft clinker Salmon Fishing boat has been donated to the trust by Mrs Susan Mackiver. Having been used by her late husband Robert Anthony for fishing off Whitburn beach where it has been laid up at the fishing club for some years now and we are very pleased to be able to rescue her before any further deterioration sets in from the rain water. Thwarts, knees and transom need replacing but planking and timbers are in fair condition.

Spring Tide was one of two boats ( the other was “Autumn Tide”) built by ship wrights Billy and Jimmy Ray at Whitburn.

The boat has provided the NEMT with excellent learning material upon which to perfect and pass on our skills in wooden boat repair.

Heritage Open Days

 Our thanks to Tim West for making a splendid speech on behalf of the NEMT at the opening launch of 2009 Heritage Open Days. This years’ venue was at the Arbeia Roman Fort just up the hill from us. Other guest speakers included John Anglin our South Shields Mayor and John Grundy with his usual very interesting and amusing talk.

The weekend of 12^th and 13^th Sept was a great success with over 100 visitors passing through over the two days. A steady flow of tea and coffee with much chat and cheer! Many thanks to all that helped with making the event go so well and of course for all the generous donations received which are so important to the success of our projects.

 Associated Boats

 We have just introduced a new kind of membership: for historic boats.

Shortly we will have a few “Associate Boats”. These will be vessels that we wish to have under the umbrella of NEMT and they will be boats whose owners are committed to their preservation.

The Trust wishes to support historic craft that are restored or being restored; and we mean support in the non-financial sense. We also mean “restored” in the literal sense: being put back the way they were. We are looking at vessels that merit display, not just historic ones but ones that are worthy of exhibition, so conversions or neglected boats are unlikely to quali

Before a vessel can be included the owners must sign up to the following pledge:

“The Owner(s) pledge that they will do their best to manage the restoration and preservation of the vessel in accordance with the “Barcelona Charter”; they further pledge that it is their intention to give the vessel a sustainable future beyond their ownership should it be transferred to others. They declare that their interest in the vessel is not for personal gain other than the satisfaction gained in pursuit of its preservation, display and related activities.”

The “Barcelona Charter” includes recognised guidelines for conservation, restoration and sustainability of historic vessels and is to be commended to all owners of heritage boats as the way to ensure their valuable possessions are properly respected. It was adopted at the European Maritime Heritage Conference in 2001.   To read it , look on the web at…………

http://www.european-maritime-heritage.org/docs/sc/NewMOUSouthAttBarcelonaCharter.pdf

Our working together with Associated Boats will raise the profile of both NEMT and the boats involved. Let’s hope they will give us the opportunity to “fly the flag” up and down the coast.

 Joke for a Boat.

A massive thank you goes to Ray Spencer, executive director of the Customs House for a most successful fundraising night for the Henry Frederick Swan life boat restoration. Enthusiasm and support of this scale is so important and encouraging

Your membership is so very important to the Trust and the future of our maritime heritage, we value you as a supporter / helper and look forward to welcoming your future input, be it just £10 or better still come along to our revised days. We now open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday AM each week.     We need You

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas with fine days and fair winds for a good sail.

 If you get the chance!!

How to find us:

By Ferry from North Shields, Turn left at the main road after leaving the ferry landing. Pass the Alum House pub on your left (although I do recommend the excellent selection of real ale!! Don’t stay too long).

 Take a left at the next roundabout and cut through the housing, keeping the river on your left.

In a couple of minutes you will reach “Comical Corner”(by the Sea Cadet Headquarters) and we are 50yards on the left.

                                                                                  North East Maritime Trust

                                                                                      Fisherman’s Workshops

                                                                                          2/3 Wapping St.

                                                                                            South Shields

                                                                                            Tyne & Wear

                                                                                 NE33 1LQ

Friends of NEMT 

 Dave Parker,

dave.a.parker@talktalk.net              Tel.    0191.5295381.

                                                        Mob.  07779785666

Other contacts :

Peter Weightman

Chairman NEMT.      peter-weightman@talktalk.net

Alec Renwick

Hon Sec.NEMT        alec_renwick@yahoo.co.uk