April 2005 Newsletter

Endeavour's Return

At last Endeavour has returned to her home port of Leigh-on-Sea after restoration at Great Totham. She returned to the same yard where she was originally built, but the yard is now called Leigh Marina. She still needs a bit of work before she is ready for the open sea and her trip to Dunkirk, but the Trust is sure she will be ready in time. Next stop on her itinerary is a blessing at Strand Wharf on Saturday 23rd April at 12.30 pm all supporters welcome.

March 2005 Newsletter

Endeavour Returns to Leigh & Dunkirk News

The restoration of Endeavour is progressing well and on the afternoon of Friday 8th April she will return to Leigh, where work such as fixing the rigging, installing the engine and electrics and fitting the sails will be undertaken. On Saturday the 23rd April at 2.30pm, there will be a short ceremony to welcome her back, which will be held on Strand Wharf.

On the 25th May she will set sail for Dunkirk in order to be part of the wreath-laying ceremony in Dunkirk Harbour on Sunday 29th May, returning to Leigh in early June.

If you would like to be at the ceremony in Dunkirk we are hoping to send a coach party on the 28th staying overnight, returning on Sunday 29th after the ceremony, cost £72.

Alternatively, there will be a service in St. Johns Church in Church Road, Southend (behind the Royals Shopping Centre on Sunday 29th May at 11.15am which will be attended by the remaining Local Dunkirk Veterans.

January 2005 Newsletter

New Engine arrives for Endeavour

Back in September of 2004 work to complete the restoration of Endeavour restarted and is progressing well. The hull has now been re-planked and Reta Cocks has done a wonderful job sticking wooden plugs into every screw hole - and there were rather a lot of them. Peter Dolby and Finlay Marshall are also doing a great job painting just about everything that can't move out of the way. The steamed timbers have been put in place and the beam shelf fixed round. 

The deck beams have now been fitted along with the bulkheads. The stern tube has been made and fitted into the pre-drilled hole and the decking is now being laid. Steve Cocks has ordered the fuel tanks from a company in Southampton and is organising the gearbox, prop shaft and propeller. 

Peter and Finlay have been putting coat after coat of varnish on the mast and spars and they now have quite a shine to them. The sails are being made in Tollsbury and work has now started on the rigging. Because time is getting short we now have four craftsman working full time on the restoration as it was felt that the sooner work is completed the better. 

The intention is to return Endeavour to Leigh sometime in March so that the finishing work like the rigging can be completed, the final painting done and she can be re-launched in April. Obviously the actual dates are still to be agreed but will be set as soon as it is practical to do so. There is still quite a lot of work to be done before she can return to Leigh, but the work is definitely proceeding well.

If you would like to support the work of the Trust by becoming a member, please contact the membership secretary on 01702 713325.

 Endeavour as she looked in the 1950s/60s (photo missing)

Please check in the news section for more pictures of the Endeavour as she takes shape.