September 2004 Newsletter

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.