REVIEW 2012 - 2013 CALENDAR 2014 National Historic Ships UK Foreword Last year we incorporated the annual review approach before. Given these positive into our calendar which enabled us to comments, I am pleased to say that we have circulate copies much more widely than in adopted this format for the foreseeable Martyn Heighton the past. We received many plaudits for this future, and I hope that this review and experiment, with respondents observing calendar gives as much pleasure and gets Director & Chair of Council that they had not seen such an imaginative to adorn even more walls than last year. National Historic Ships UK Front cover: Photo Competition Category A – Photo Competition Category B – Entry: Photo Competition Category C – Entry: Photo Competition Category B – Entry: Shortlisted Entry: I am going to get wet, Inspecting the port propeller, by Stephen Page. Deadeye, by Stephen Coley. Ship’s Telegraph System, Coronia, Scarborough, by Robert Skuse. by William Danby. 1. Introduction he Advisory Committee on National • To provide leadership, strategic vision across on secondment since April 2013 assisting in John Kearon: Historic Vessel Conservation Expert THistoric Ships (National Historic Ships) the UK historic ships’ communities and wider developing a project on the First World War David Newberry: Former Captain of HMS Warrior was set up in 2006 as an Advisory Non- maritime sectors by acting as the official voice for funded by HLF. David Ralph: Maritime & Coastguard Agency Departmental Public Body (NDPB) following historic vessels through proactive engagement John Robinson: Maritime Heritage Trust two reports from the House of Commons Select with the sector, the UK government, the Alan Watson: Medusa Trust Committee for Culture, Media and Sport on Devolved Administrations, public and private COUNCIL OF EXPERTS Stuart Wilkinson: Transport Trust the needs of historic vessels in the UK. In the agencies, and communities at large. A Council of Experts drawn from across the review of NDPBs in 2010-11, the Department for historic vessels and heritage conservation Details on the new Council are given on our Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) was keen to see This remit is carried out through a range of sectors and chaired by the Director has been website at www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk. the work of National Historic Ships continue functions and activities. DCMS continues established to advise and assist staff. Further members for the Council will be sought, whilst adhering to the government’s policy of to be the sponsoring department with an To date the Council comprises: particularly with regard to attracting those reducing the number of NDPBs. Consequently, annual ring-fenced grant currently standing at from maritime industries and representation National Historic Ships UK was constituted £228,500 reflecting a 15% reduction over three Henry Cleary: Maritime Heritage Trust from the Devolved Administrations in as an independent body funded by DCMS years in line with government policy. This Mark Dunkley: English Heritage Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. under the aegis of Royal Museums Greenwich, budget will reduce further as cuts are made by retaining its functions as the UK-wide body government to “unprotected” departments. charged with giving objective advice on matters DCMS funding is supplemented by external relating to historic vessels and promoting their funding for specific projects and grants value both culturally and economically within awarded to the organisation to meet costs for and beyond the UK. initiatives such as website development. Such funding will become increasingly important as The remit for National Historic Ships UK is: government funding declines. • To act as the primary source of independent and objective advice to the Secretary of State STAFF, VOLUNTEERS & SECONDEES for Culture, Media and Sport, other government Staff comprise Martyn Heighton, Director departments, and the Devolved Administrations and Chair of the Council; Hannah Cunliffe, on all matters relating to historic ships. Policy and Project Manager; Paula Palmer, Office and Web Manager, and Debbie • To act as a source of advice to the Heritage Williams, replacing Emerald Laing as Office Lottery Fund (HLF) and other grant-giving Coordinator. Two trained volunteers – Ron and public bodies across the UK on maritime Ellis and Roy Marsden – give crucial help conservation priorities, applications received in maintaining the databases, with a third relating to funding historic ships projects, and volunteer, Stuart Anderson, recently appointed proposals which directly or indirectly affect to work alongside Claire Durrant, a member of historic vessels. staff from the Cutty Sark Trust, who has been Photo Competition Category A – Entry: Swiftstone at Thames Barge Race 2013 towing barge, by Ben Mann. NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS UK | REVIEW 2012 – 2013 2. The National Registers Photo Competition Category A – Entry: Steam Pinnace 199, © Maritime Workshop. Photo Competition Category C – Winner: Photo Competition Category A – Entry: Mirosa resting, by Jane Harman. Early morning – Llangollen Canal, by Alan Kempster, Reaper passing the Isle of May, by Alaistair Ramsay. Dundonald. he registers held by National Historic holds information on 84 historic vessels One major preoccupation this year has These findings are now in the process TShips UK remain fundamental to with strong UK associations lying overseas been to develop a strong methodology for of refinement for a final report to Council in meeting its remit. The four live registers in which there is a particular interest, as reassessing the National Historic Fleet (NHF). March 2014, after which consultation with are accessible free online at www.national subjects for potential repatriation (such as A Registration Working Group has been set up the sector (particularly the vessels presently historicships.org.uk. The National Register of HMS Whimbrel in Egypt), or as conservation through the Council to continue the review of in the NHF) will be undertaken before any Historic Vessels (NRHV) holds details of some projects (such as the steam ship Yavari in the National Historic Fleet and development amendments to the National Historic Fleet 1,250 vessels (an increase of some 74 vessels Peru). Finally the UK Replica List (established work on vessel assessment and scoring are made. over last year) including over 200 in the April 2012) holds information on replicas in methodology. This group is chaired by Hannah National Historic Fleet. The National Archive the UK using the replica definitions set out Cunliffe and comprises Paula Palmer, Council The second area of activity has been refining of Historic Vessels (NAHV) established in in our manual Conserving Historic Vessels. members Alan Watson and Mark Dunkley, the relationship between the NRHV vessels 2010 lists vessels which were on the NRHV The list has gained two more replicas this and George Hogg – Trustee of the National and those on the National Small Boat Register but have been lost through dilapidation, year, taking the total to 11. Maritime Museum Cornwall and founder of (NSBR) run by the National Maritime Museum being scrapped, or through sinking, as the National Small Boat Register. This group Cornwall. Paula Palmer has been leading this well as those about which insufficient These registers are used in a wide variety of has been testing a “batching” system in which initiative on our behalf, working alongside information is held to keep them on the ways from in-depth research, educational vessels with like characteristics are assessed in George Hogg. Considerable progress has been live NRHV. This year a further 16 vessels enquiries from all age groups, through groups in order to establish comparative data. made in rationalising the two registers, along have been added to the archive, taking the to those looking for visitor information The working group has reported its initial with developing a list of NSBR vessels (33 ft. overall figure to 470 including those that (including vessels taking passengers to sea or findings on the outcome of the test groups to LOA and below) which may qualify for are un-verified. The Overseas Watch List out on waterways) and film makers wanting the Council, including the considerations to be inclusion in the National Historic Fleet by (OWL), again established in 2010 currently vessels which meet their requirements. addressed in making changes to the Fleet list. virtue of their national significance. 3. Advising Government 4. Advising Funders & related agencies Photo Competition Category A – Shortlisted Entry: Paddle steamer Waverley arriving at Kilcreggan Pier Photo Competition Category C – Entry: Racing home, by Michael Dove. on the Clyde, by Graeme Phanco. egular contact is maintained with the new Low Sulphur Fuels regulations, he bulk of advice we give on funding NHS-UK has submitted detailed analyses on R government providing background and questions concerning the National Tapplications lies with the Heritage 19 HLF applications ranging from advice on briefings for parliamentary questions, Historic Fleet vessels Waverley, Balmoral, Lottery Fund (HLF), the National Heritage the sustainability of a vessel in receipt of a Freedom of Information requests and HMS Bronington, and HMS Plymouth. Memorial Fund (NHMF), and the Preservation recent £1m grant, through detailed Round general advice involving issues linked Most recently NHS-UK has been involved of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM) 2 reports on vessel conservation projects, to with historic vessels. Key matters on in up-to-date briefings for DCMS on the Fund run by Arts Council England, although the proposal for a major skills training and which NHS-UK has been consulted this future of City of Adelaide on which there is advice is also sought from other funders such conservation facility on the Solent. Reports year include the Export Licencing Review; a more detailed report later in this review. as the Headley Trust and Wolfson Foundation. have been made to PRISM on four projects, the Museums Designation scheme; In addition to initial advice on a wide range with two project reports being prepared for of projects over the period of this review, NHMF.