Welcome to the Autumn 2025 Newsletter!
In this issue, we bring you news of an incident during the Nore Race that has caused some damage to the boat. We also report on the very enjoyable Summer Reception at Osborne Bros.
We're delighted to bring you a story about Leigh Fisherman Ted Potter, who built the most delightful models of Endeavour just before the millennium.
Please drop us a line if you have any comments, or post a message on our Facebook page.
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| Endeavour in her original form, originally owned by Dave Spurgeon, now by his sons |
Would members please note the new subscriptions due on 1st September.
Would those who already pay by standing order please amend accordingly.
Those who have not yet set up a standing order are encouraged so to do.
As previously announced, the new rates are as follows:
Individual £20
Retired £15
Family £30
With 2026 marking the centenary of Endeavour’s launch, the Trust
is currently hard at work putting together a book to celebrate her
remarkable story; the little ship from humble beginnings that became a
war hero and a film star!
We’re reviewing old documents and fact checking everything we can to make sure we tell the story as best we possibly can.
Of course, any story about Endeavour is
really a story about the people that built her, worked her and restored
her, and we’re hoping to celebrate the Old Leigh fishing industry as a
whole.
The book won’t be ready for a while, but as soon as we
have a publication date, we’ll make sure you know it and how to order a
copy.
The Leigh-on-Sea Endeavour Trust Laying Up Supper will be taking place at 7pm on Friday 7th November 2025 at Essex County Bowling Club, 21 Imperial Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 8NE (Map).
This is a vital fundraiser for the Trust, and is always a good evening out!
Welcome to the Summer 2025 Newsletter!
This issue is very Dunkirk-focussed as Endeavour has just returned from the memorial events marking the 85th anniversary of the rescue. We bring you the story of the trip, including media appearances, and a new way to track Endeavour when she's out and about. We have also included an article about Harold Graham Porter, the naval rating that was on board Renown when she was lost on the return from Dunkirk along with her crew of three members of the Osborne family.
We also bring you the announcement of a Return to Dunkirk BBQ evening to be held at Osborne Bros in July.
Please drop us a line if you have any comments, or post a message on our Facebook page.
You can now track Endeavour in real time when she’s out and about - Endeavour now has AIS fitted which allows you to find her when she's out and about, though, of course, she will mostly be in home waters.
AIS, or Automatic Identification System, is a maritime navigation safety communication system that allows vessels to broadcast their position, speed, and other data to other vessels and shore stations using VHF to exchange data, helping to prevent collisions, track ships, and improve maritime traffic management.
You can use a website such as https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/232037974 (other trackers are available) or download an app for your phone to keep track of her.
Endeavour's call sign is MJXW6, and her MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is 232037974, which you will need to distinguish our Endeavour from all the others (though the link above will take you direct to her)!
The Trust is delighted to announce an evening to formally welcome Endeavour back from her trip to the 85th Dunkirk Memorial events in France to take place at Osborne Bros on Billet Wharf at 7pm on Thursday 17th July. Tickets are priced at £32 each.
There will be a talk about the trip by members of the crew, and many stories of what happened at Ramsgate and Dunkirk, and a first rate barbecue menu. We are expecting Endeavour to be on her mooring in full view.
Menu:
To Start
Sourdough baguette, Seaweed Butter or plan butter
Main Catch - choice of:
Piri piri prawn skewers
Cajun salmon & spring onion skewers
Tuna terriyaki skewers
Lemon, garlic & chicken skewers
Salsa verde, halloumi & summer veg skewers
All skewers served with side salad and ziggy fries, seasoned with seaweed salt.
To Finish
Biscoff baked cheesecake
For tickets and dinner choice please contact:
Chris - droggy39@gmail.com or 07909 189746
Cameron - cameron94uk@yahoo.co.uk or 07711 847898
Welcome to the Spring 2025 Newsletter!
We are delighted to be able to announce our new joint presidents, Andrew Lawrence and Graham Osborne, the cousins that own the Osborne Bros cockling business in the Old Town. We also have a couple of new faces on the Committee too. There's details of the return to Dunkirk in May, plus some other dates in the diary, including the Spring Social, and some updates on subscription prices.
We've released our schedule of events for 2025, and would like to encourage everyone to take a look and take up the opportunities for trips, including non-members (they will need to take out a membership, but this is comparable to the price of such a trip anyway!).
Please drop us a line if you have any comments, or post a message on our Facebook page.
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| Happy faces on an Endeavour excursion back in 2022 |
This May will see Endeavour return to Dunkirk for the first time since 2015. This pilgrimage should take place every five years, but Covid put pay to the 2020 trip.
This marks the 85th anniversary of the Miracle of Dunkirk, the rescue of the British Army from the French coast from what should have been a crushing defeat by the vastly superior surrounding German army.
The Trust would like to welcome Steve Barham to the Committee. Steve grew up sailing in local waters and now sails regularly on the River Crouch. He has followed the Endeavour story since she was first restored and looks forward to contributing to the important work of the Trust.
We also welcome Jenny Davies, who will be helping us out with our comms on social media. Jenny is very familiar with Endeavour, being Chairman Peter Wexham’s daughter, and hence having grown up around the boat when Peter was her owner!
At 7pm on Friday 9th May at Osbornes Bros Cafe on Billet Wharf, High Street, Old Town (opposite the Crooked Billet), the Trust will hold its Spring Reception.
There will be an opportunity to meet fellow members and enjoy a meal and a talk by joint President of the Trust and co-owner of Osborne Bros, Andrew Lawrence, entitled ‘Dunkirk & the
Leigh Cockle Industry’.
Some dates to note. Further detail will be forthcoming once we have it!
May 9th - Spring Social
May 16-18th: Leigh Shanty festival
May 19 – 26th: Endeavour at Dunkirk
July TBC: Summer Reception - Osbornes with a meal. Tickets £TBC
Sept 6-7th: Old Leigh Regatta run by the Scouts of the Old Town
Oct TBC: Laying Up Supper—Venue & Tickets TBC
To keep up with the increasing costs of maintaining Endeavour, the committee has agreed a modest increase in subscriptions from 1st September 2025.
