Dunkirk Return 2025 Report

With apologies for the delay in publishing a report, we are delighted to present Robin Tothill’s account of the 2025 Dunkirk return, courtesy of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. 

Leigh on Sea to Ramsgate
Monday 19th May, it was a 5.00am departure from Leigh-on-Sea, the weather was overcast, with a wind easterly F2. Endeavour LO4l, slipped her lines from Bell Wharf taking the ebb tide down the Thames Estuary, destination Ramsgate. Some Endeavour background information for you. She is a cockle bawley with a length of 35' and more importantly a draft of just 3'6" and built by Cole and Wiggins in 1926, so very shortly to become a centenarian. 

Summer Social at Osborne's

The Hoy Shanty Men Entertain in 2025

The ever-popular Endeavour Summer Social for 2026 has been announced! It will take place at Osborne Bros on Billet Wharf at 7 for 7:30pm on Friday, 26th June, with tickets priced at £25 per person.

This event is open to all members and friends and is always an enjoyable evening! 

Centenary Dinner Announced

2026 marks Endeavour's centenary year. 

Endeavour holds a special place in our hearts for what she represents; the men that worked her and boats like her in and around the Thames estuary, the extraordinary heroism and sacrifices of the Leigh Dunkirk crews and the inspiring story of our community coming together to ensure her restoration.

2026 Sailing Schedule Online

The 2026 Schedule is now online and attached for those receiving the newsletter by email. 

Please do get in touch and ask if you can take a trip—we want Endeavour to be used by the community!

 

Summer Social at the Osbornes

Sixty members and friends gathered at Osbornes Cafe, Billet Wharf, on 17th July on a fine summer’s evening. A BBQ skewer meal was served by the friendly staff and enjoyed by all, while the mastless Endeavour lay on her mooring nearby.

There was quite a bit of chat about where the new mast might come from (see story) among other topics. 

Annual Laying Up Supper Details Announced

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!

Back to the Beaches - Dunkirk 2025

Endeavour has recently returned from Dunkirk where she took part in the memorial events marking the 85th anniversary of the evacuations. This was the first return for ten years due to the interruption of Covid in 2020, and it also marks the first time that there would be no veterans present. 

Endeavour left Leigh on Monday, 19th May, for Ramsgate, where it assembled with the sixty six other Little Ships in the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships flotilla. On board were skipper Alan Barttram, mate Andy Lewis and a crew of Cameron McGregor,  Carl Pullen,  Justin Hitchcock,  Robin Tothill and  Bill Shirley.   

Return from Dunkirk BBQ Evening

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

Schedule of Activities 2025

Happy faces on an Endeavour excursion back in 2022

The new Schedule of Activities for 2025 (pdf), listing all potential dates when tides mean Endeavour could make an excursion, has been uploaded to our website on the Trips on Endeavour page. If you are unable to access an online copy, please let Chris Burls (01702 553274) know, and we'll arrange a printed version.

Spring Social

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’.

Dates for the Diary

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

Nore Race 2024

Rounding the Last Buoy

The Nore Race for dinghies and cruisers is an historic race in the Thames Estuary, having taken place each summer since the early 1920s (with a break during World War II). Since the 1930s, the race has been run by Benfleet Yacht Club.

We had hoped to enter Endeavour for the 2023 event, but there were questions about insurance that made it too uncertain to risk participating, and she only attended as a supporter. This year, however, with everything in place, she was entered as part of Group 3—mono-hulled cruising yachts.

Leigh-on-Sea Regatta 2024

This year, after three years of the Leigh Lions maintaining Leigh’s early September historic festival, the two Old Town Scout Groups resumed control and resurrected the two day Regatta with many traditional events.

Endeavour has always supported Regatta despite its clashing with the Classic Boat Show at St Katharine’s Dock, to which she is always invited. I can remember the days, back in the 50s, when the fishermen from boats like Endeavour joined in the fun.

Laying Up Supper 2024

Endeavour’s Laying Up Supper is going ahead at the Chalkwell Park Rooms on Friday 1st November. Tickets are £27.50 and menu options are:

Dunkirk at the Docks

The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) puts on a reunion of its members each year—the ADLS Memorial Cruise—around the end of May, the anniversary of the evacuation, and Endeavour always tries to attend.

This year, St Katharine Dock Marina was chosen as the venue from Thursday 23rd to Monday 27th (next year it will be in the Port of Dunkirk itself).

Summer Reception 2024

On Friday, 14th June the Trust hosted its annual Summer Social at its regular venue of  Osborne Bros on Billet Wharf. Entertainment was from the always entertaining Hoy Shanty Crew.  

The Summer Social is an opportunity for our members to get together to enjoy local seafood and each other’s company with Endeavour sitting dressed overall on her mooring nearby. With high water at 1900, members could really enjoy seeing her at her very best.

Dates for the Diary

The annual Laying Up Supper will take place on Friday, 1st November; full details will be announced shortly, but save the date!

We are also planning a meal and quiz evening at Osbornes in mid September - date tbc. Another opportunity to enjoy their delicious food and great company while raising a few pounds for the Trust.

More news when we have it—keep an eye on the website and our socials!

Old Leigh Shanty Festival Announced

Old Leigh Shanty Festival 2023 - who will we attract this year?

This year’s Old Leigh Shanty Festival, organised by our good friends, the Leigh Lions, will run from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May.

On May 17, the Crooked Billet will host a ‘sing-around’ session. On the Saturday, around 15 crews will perform all over Old Leigh. On Sunday, May 19, more shanty crews and folk musicians will perform. All of the musicians give up their time for free to raise funds.

Schedule of Activities 2024 — Book a Trip on Endeavour

The new Schedule of Activities for 2024 has been uploaded to the Endeavour website on the Trips on Endeavour page. We'd love to print it in the newsletter, but we'd have no room for anything else if we did! If you are unable to access an online copy, please let Chris Burls (01702 553274) know, and we'll arrange for a hard copy to be delivered.

The Schedule of Activities lists all of the potential dates when tides mean Endeavour could possibly make an excursion, plus lists existing commitments including - amongst others - the Classic Boat Show at St Kats, the ADLS Commemorative Cruise and the Old Leigh Shanty Festival.

Summer Reception Announced

The date for this year’s Summer Reception has been announced as Friday, the 14th of June. We’re delighted to once more to be able to host the event at Osborne Bros on Billet Wharf. 

The Summer Reception is renowned for being great fun and an opportunity to chat with Trust members over a glass while enjoying Osborne’s fine seafood.