13TH ISSUE, WINTER 2011 National Historic Ships UK Calendar 2012 together with Classic Boat This calendar is the ideal stocking filler for maritime heritage enthusiasts. Showcasing a variety of images from the National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2011, it features a range of craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels from HMS Victory to steam yacht Carola, tall ship Glenlee and narrowboats on the Shropshire Union Canal. Representing the UK’s maritime heritage as seen through the eyes of school children, amateur photographers, skilled craftsmen and sailing enthusiasts, it will appeal to your nautical instincts and add a splash of colour to your office or kitchen wall. Produced for the first time by National Historic Ships UK in partnership with Classic Boat, it is available at £12.95 plus postage and packing. NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS | PARK ROW | GREENWICH | LONDON | SE10 9NF | TEL: 020 8312 8558 2 NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS NEWSLETTER ISSUE 13 Future for National Historic Ships UK secured DCMS, the National Maritime The Advisory Committee work we do, the importance of our Museum (NMM) and National appointed to National Historic Ships status as an independent body, and Historic Ships, working in close in 2006 will be replaced by a the constructive partnerships we partnership with Northern Ireland, Council of Experts drawn from the have with the UK governments and Scotland and Wales have agreed Devolved Administrations and the National Maritime Museum. The new Terms of Reference which organisations working throughout new arrangements build on the secure the future of National Historic the UK in the historic ships and commitment and hard work of the Ships (formerly an Advisory Non- heritage sectors. former Advisory Committee, which Departmental Public Body). In recognition of its role across laid firm foundations for future National Historic Ships UK will the home nations, and its growing success.” continue to be an independent international profile the organisations Kevin Fewster, Director, National organisation which gives objective will adopt the expanded title Maritime Museum: advice to UK governments and local National Historic Ships UK. “The National Maritime Museum is authorities; funding bodies, and the John Penrose, DCMS Minister for pleased to continue both our strong historic ships sector on all matters Tourism and Heritage said: relationship with National Historic relating to historic vessels in the UK. “Following the DCMS review of Ships UK and our commitment to DCMS will remain the principal public bodies, I am pleased to preserving and sustaining our island funder, with National Historic Ships announce the new governance nations’ historic vessels”. continuing to seek additional structure for National Historic Ships. funding from appropriate sources in I am confident that the new support of its work. arrangements, and the partnership The organisation will be an with the National Maritime Museum, independent body with conduit for will enable this important DCMS funding, support services, organisation to continue to offer and the means for reporting the objective and strategic advice about A review of the work we’ve activities of the organisation to historic vessels to the UK undertaken over the past five years DCMS through the aegis of the Governments and funding bodies.” from 2006 will be published in the NMM. Similar reporting Martyn Heighton, Director, new year along with a forward look arrangements will be agreed with National Historic Ships UK: at what we will be doing up to Northern Ireland, Scotland and “I am delighted with this outcome, 2014/5. Wales. which recognises the value of the HMS is airbrushed from London 2012 poster just days before Remembrance Sunday The Daily Mail has reported the Martyn Heighton, Director of “I am also disappointed that news story that HMS Belfast - National Historic Ships UK said: “It is early representations made by veteran of the Second World War an astonishing thing to do and is an National Historic Ships to the Arctic Convoys, D-Day Landings, interesting reflection on how the Olympic organisers regarding the post Second World War service in 2012 Festival organisers view a use of historic vessels both in the Far East, and the largest vessel major heritage asset such as HMS London and nationwide as a in the UK’s National Historic Fleet - Belfast. It shows a startling lack of powerful component in the cultural has been airbrushed from a London understanding of the ship’s history, celebrations were not taken up and 2012 poster featuring an aerial view war record and cultural presence in that a real opportunity to use our of London. The posters were the capital. It would be unthinkable unique maritime heritage in exciting designed to promote the London to airbrush the Houses of Parliament and innovative ways in support of 2012 Festival and have now been or the London Eye from images of the Cultural Olympiad plans is being removed after Olympic organisers London as design inconveniences, lost.” LOCOG apologised for their and in this case the graphics should mistake. have been worked around the ship. NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS NEWSLETTER ISSUE 13 3 Re-launch of Some 350 people were gathered at was the birth date of the vessel's of the restoration, or had some con- the National Maritime Museum designer, William Stoba. nection to the vessel and her history. Cornwall on Saturday 1st October All present at the ceremony were Amongst the guests was a descend- for a private ceremony to mark the given the opportunity to go on board ant of Kindly Light's pilot, Lewis Al- 100th birthday of pilot cutter Kindly Kindly Light in groups and view the exander, as well as members of the Light- re-launched after a meticulous high level of authenticity which has Ellis family - whose father, Chris Ellis, 18-year long extensive restoration, been achieved with maximum care had founded the Ocean Youth Club funded and masterminded by owner in the restoration. She has been re- with Kindly Light in 1960. Kindly Malcolm Mckeand. turned as closely to her original Light will be kept on the River Fal Rev. Chris Courtauld led the as- specification as research would al- this winter whilst the remainder of sembled crowd in a rededication of low, complete with her build paint her rig is fitted. the vessel and a rendition of the scheme (as depicted in a photo from Photo: National Maritime Museum Cornwall hymn 'Lead Kindly Light, amid her launch day), origi- th'encircling gloom', following which nal accommodation Kindly Light was officially re-named layout, pilot cutter by the daughter of boatbuilder David deck fittings and no Walkey. In a remarkable turn of engine installed. There events, professional Barry seaman was also an illustrated John Hart then produced the original talk on her history and coin from Kindly Light's mast-step the restoration which which he had removed for safekeep- was held in the Lec- ing following the vessel's last sail ture Theatre. when her mast was lifted on entry to All those invited to Cardiff Museum. John presented the the ceremony had coin, dated 1854, to Kindly Light's been keen supporters owner and it was later found that this Become our Flagship Winner of Raymarine Award announced of the Year 2012 At midday on Saturday 17th are to be the recipients of the Ray- ‘Flagship of the Year' is an annual September at the Southampton Boat marine Award. Nowadays, in the award run by National Historic Ships Show, Raymarine UK announced the North Sea, there are so few naviga- UK to recognise the tireless efforts Lowestoft sailing smack Excelsior as tion marks that it is no longer possi- of vessel owners to keep their the successful recipient of the ble to make a passage in all vessels in working order. It is aimed National Historic Ships’ award for conditions without a plotter. The AIS at vessels which are operational and regularly operating historic vessels, ability to enable one to call up a which raise their profile by attending receiving over £4,000 worth of commercial vessel and let them public events and festivals and electronic gear to enhance safety at know that you are actually a 100 ton inviting visitors of all ages and sea, including an electronic sailing ship with seventeen souls on interests to come on board and chartplotter (C120W) and an AIS 500 board that will take several minutes experience historic vessels at first (Automatic Identification System). to tack is vital for future safety.’ hand. The successful applicant will Excelsior is one of the National National Historic Ships UK is the be given a broad pennant to fly, Historic Fleet – some 200 vessels official voice for historic vessels in marking their flagship status and the included on the National Register of the United Kingdom, championing year of the award and receive a Historic Vessels which are of pre- their interests and working to advise grant of up to £1,000 to assist with eminent significance to the UK. She government and key funding bodies the costs of running the vessel and regularly cruises the North Sea and to ensure their long-term conserva- appearing at major national or Channel with its busy shipping lines, tion wherever possible. The support international events. In return, the covering some 4,000 miles per year of Raymarine in offering this Award vessel will help publicise the work of with youth groups and passengers has helped to highlight the vital im- National Historic Ships UK. Full on board. portance of keeping the UK Historic details of the conditions and how to Fleet safe at sea, protecting vessels apply can be found on our website: John Wylson, Technical Director which are an irreplaceable part of www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/ of the Excelsior Trust, said: ‘We were Britain’s maritime past.