New Engine arrives for Endeavour
It
is said that all good things come to those who wait. So a small group of
Trust members gathered in Old Leigh on Thursday the 19th of Aug 04 and took
possession of the new Lister four cylinder diesel engine which, as you will
recall, has been supplied to the Trust at cost price by Peter Thompson of
Marine Engine Services Ltd of Uxbridge, who are the distributors for Lister,
and marinise the engines and gearboxes, so that the water that cools the
engine is cooled by seawater; Lister-Petter of Dursley in Gloucester built
the engine. It was delivered to the workshop of Endeavour Marine Services in
Old Leigh which is owned by Steve Cocks the Grandson of Joe Deal who owned
the boat for many years and changed the Endeavour from a Cockle Boat to a
Shrimp Boat.
This is wonderful news for the Trust and we would like to
thank both of these Companies for their help in assisting the Trust by
supplying the new engine, It is also good in respect of the Endeavour
because we believe she had a Lister engine from when she was built and when
she went to Dunkirk in 1940. She also had a new air cooled Lister engine
installed in the 1960s. Now the engineer can measure up with the
boatbuilders for the new engine beds and the shaft and stern tube and get
the propeller. Also now we can start to assemble all the other fittings like
the fuel tank and exhaust and get the electronics sorted out. This is
another major step forward in our efforts to have Endeavour fully restored
and seaworthy in time for Dunkirk in June 2005. The Trust now has all the
major components which go to make up Endeavour either on order or in our
possession.
Mast, Spars, Sails and Rigging
There
has been great progress on these vital items, all to be produced the way
they would have been in 1924. One of our craftsmen Shaun White and his
father Colin White have fashioned the mast and spars at Brightlingsea from
virgin timber. Some of us thought it would help if we obtained existing
masts to be trimmed down in size (diameter) but were advised that it is
easier to start with a square baulk of timber: you live and learn! The sails
are under way at North Sea Sails in Tolesbury from material which is very
similar to the original, but longer lasting. All the rope work and grommets
will be hand made, so the finished sails will be traditional in every way.
The full suit will consist of the loose-footed main and stay sail in brown
material, and No.1 Jib and tow stay sail in natural cotton weave.
Rigging will be done once the mast can be stepped on the
deck. Again this will all be hand served rather than done the modern way,
and this will be crafted by T&S Rigging at Maldon, who will also supply hand
made blocks for the running rigging.
Fishing festival at Leigh
On Sunday 26th September it is planned to have a festival
showing how fishing has developed over the years, and we will have a stall -
probably on Strand Wharf.
Our Vice Chairman Paul Gilson is much involved and Steve
Hall has promised to attend to show Endeavour's sails being made. So please
make a note in your diary to attend.
Financial Report - continuing success
For those of you who were unable to attend the Trust AGM
I have some very good news. At the AGM we were able to report that through
the good work mainly of David Norman we have been able to secure a grant
from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £40,000. This means that we have now
secured sufficient funding to be able to complete the restoration of
Endeavour. It is now expected that Brian and Shaun will resume work on
Endeavour, along with the assistance of a third craftsman, in mid September.
But please don't let this financial success deter you from renewing your
membership or continuing to raise or donate money to the Trust. As the Trust
finances are no different to your own personal finances, you can never have
too much money. Because as soon as you think everything is OK something
unexpected crops up. Also as I have said on a number of occasions, as yet we
just do not know how much the annual running costs are going to be, and by
spring of next year she will be back in the water at Leigh.
Also at the AGM we were able to report that we have
received the very generous donation of some shares. These are shares in
companies most would regard as secure investments. Therefore the Trustees
have decided to retain them in order to use the dividend payments towards
the future running costs. They are shares in Shell, Bradford & Bingley,
Northern Rock, Alliance & Leicester, BT, Aviva and MMo2. So we are happy to
report that our current finances are very healthy but as over the next six
months restoration will be progressing at quite a pace our bank balance will
be shrinking accordingly. And we also have to remember that £11,000 cannot
be claimed from the donating trusts until restoration is agreed to be
complete. So please continue to give us your support and we will get the job
done and on time.
