Annual General Meeting 2010

This year’s AGM will be held on Friday 22nd October in the New Road Methodist Church commencing at 7.30pm. Come along and hear the work that the Trust has been doing over the last year and let us know your thoughts, observations or, even criticisms.

We're pleased to present the agenda, minutes and Chairman's Report from the 2010 AGM, along with the balance sheet. Click the links below to open:

• AGM Agenda 2010 (MS Word)
• Chairman's report 31/08/10 (MS Word)
• Balance Sheet and Accounts 2010 (MS Excel)
• AGM Agenda 2009 (MS Word)

Mayor Unveils Our Endeavour Information Board

Once we had obtained the use of the excellent mooring near to the Crooked Billet in the Old Town, we realised passers by would be able to see Endeavour but not know anything about her history. We talked to Cory Environmental Trust in Southend and they undertook to fund a board giving details of our Endeavour and her past.


Staff at Southend Borough Council took on all the work. Our Mayor, Cllr Ann Holland, very kindly agreed to come and do the honours to dedicate the sign and make it available for public viewing. This was particularly relevant because the Mayor was the Chair of the Cory Environmental Trust when they agreed to fund the information board.


Our thanks therefore go not only to Southend Borough Council’s Lynn Jones, Abbey Greenwood and Debee Skinner for their invaluable help and assistance but to all who helped to make the funding, designing, manufacturing and siting of the information board a reality.

Events

1. Our evenings on board the Wilton (Essex Yacht Club’s Head Quarters) have proved very popular in the past. We are pleased to advise that the next one will be on Friday 3rd September 2010 at 19:30 hrs.

Menu
Parfait of Pate with a Tower of Cristini
Individual Fish Pie (with or without prawns)
topped with Parmesan Mash
Seasonal Vegetables
Summer Fruit Brioche & Butter Pudding served with Cream

As usual tickets, at £16.50 per person, will be available from Reta and once more, as there is limited accommodation, we advise that you book early to avoid disappointment.

2. A new gathering is on Friday October 15th at 19:00 for 19:30 hrs at the Ship Inn (upstairs), Old Leigh when we will all display our knowledge – or lack of it!

Yes it’s a Quiz Night!

Tables of four or six will compete for wondrous prizes. You can bring your own solid refreshments, liquids available from the bar. Tickets again from Reta at £5 per person.

Leigh Fishing Festival

Another very successful event due to great work by our committee chair Peter Dolby. David Spurgeon and his wife worked hard giving out leaflets and enrolling members, and Reta and George sold second-hand items to raise funds.

Endeavour had her customary visit from our President David Amess who was joined by Southend’s Deputy Mayor Councillor David Norman. We were also pleased to see the chair of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council, Councillor Pat Holden who has been a member of the Trust since early days.

Endeavour on TV

Following on from the ‘stop press’ in the last newsletter, here is a little more information on the filming.

ITV are doing a series highlighting the roles of civilians during the war, and wanted to follow up the story of Leigh fishermen’s involvement in the Dunkirk evacuation. After talks with us, it was agreed that they would interview Trevor Osborne on Endeavour whilst she was under sail. Trevor had recently returned, having gone over to Dunkirk on the commemorative voyage and his family were much involved in the original evacuation.

On Thursday June 17th, Endeavour set sail from Leigh with Paul Heiney, the ITV presenter, a full camera crew, Trevor, and the producer with Brum and Steve Hall as crew; Paul Gilson was in charge of the support boat.

When will it be shown on TV? We still don’t know but the series is – we think – on Sunday evenings.

ADDENDUM: The programme was entitled Countrywise at War, and aired on Sunday 8th August 2010 on ITV1.

Our Vice President

The usual Vice-President is often just a figurehead not greatly involved in things, but ours is very different. Sailing his own boat, Jeremy Squier is nearing the end of a circumnavigation of Britain, sailing right round, just taking a ‘short cut’ through the Caledonian Canal.

Congratulations Jeremy – you’re a role model for all the senior citizens, and the youngsters too.

It's Grass!

When she originally returned to Leigh, Endeavour was in a pitiful state. 

This photo shows her in Leigh Marina Yard (ex J&J) when the chipboard used for ‘repairs’ is obvious.

On the left of the photo, you can see where grass and weeds had taken root on her deck.

Another Story In The Life of Endeavour - Dave Spurgeon

When Peter Wexham and I were partners in the Endeavour, one of the places that we fished for Dover Sole was in the approach to Sheerness harbour. The water there was a lot deeper than most other places and we fished about 60 to 70 feet and up to 90 feet in some places. We had been working these grounds for about two weeks.

Early one Monday morning, just as it became daylight, we shot the trawl net away and started towing towards the harbour. There is a very strong tide that runs out of the river Medway through the harbour so it takes time to tow the net any distance. About one hour later we started to haul the net in and as we started to pull the net over the side of the boat, we could see what looked like strips of metal hanging in the net. As we got the net further inboard, we could see that the metal objects were in fact rifles, first one, then two and then even more came into sight as we pulled. If I remember correctly, we had about 10 rifles and two hand guns in the cod end of the net.

Educational Programme

Our educational programme started in July with a PowerPoint presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary School. Originally booked for years five and six we were pleased to present to year four as well.

The talk with accompanying slides tells the story of Endeavour from launch to restoration and her part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From the quality and quantity of questions from the children we feel that the presentation was both informative and enjoyable.

We are booked to present at Blenheim Primary after the school summer holidays.