SPRING 2010 NEWS

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There are some wonderful events coming up in the next few months - one very soon:

 Fish & Chips Supper

Friday 19th March - 7:30pm To be held at the Estuary Rooms, London Road, Leigh to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation.

• 1940's music

• Live shanties from the Thamesside Shanty Men

• Memorabilia display

• Natters by the Skipper

All this for only £10.50!!!

But you must ring Reta now to reserve your space.

Telling About It

The photograph shows an existing board adjacent to the Endeavour mooring and explains the wildlife to be seen on the mudflats. 

Thanks to assistance from Abbie Greenwood and Lynn Jones at Southend Borough Council, we have obtained permission to erect a similar signboard giving the history of Endeavour. This will be erected near to the wildlife board overlooking Endeavour on her mooring. We are now applying for a grant to cover the cost.

 Return to Dunkirk

Over the last week in May, Endeavour will be returning to Dunkirk escorted by many other Dunkirk veteran boats and the Royal Navy. We will not be running a coach on this occasion, but those of you who enjoyed the hotel last time could book direct.

Hotel Borel
6 Rue L Hermitte
59140 Dunkerque
France

Tel: 00 33 328 665180

The service at the memorial will take place on the morning of Sunday 30th May.

 FREE CONTINENTAL CRUISE

There is still space for intrepid mariners to go on Endeavour, and enjoy the excellent cuisine, toilet facilities and service from the attendants! The basic details are that you will be leaving Leigh to sail to Ramsgate (stage 1). After an overnight stay she will be off to Dunkirk early in the morning with the other vessels (stage 2). Two full days in Belgium followed by the return to Ramsgate (stage 3) and back to Leigh (stage 4).

All these stages are of course dependant on the weather, but you will have Paul Gilson as skipper and a full working crew. For full details of dates and availability contact Peter Dolby.

As with all good cruises, space is limited, so you are advised to book early.

 Heads or Loos

Call the toilet on board whatever you like, but the days have long gone when a bucket was the only receptacle necessary on a boat. We have agreed to fit a toilet on board Endeavour so decorum can be retained by all who sail on her, when taken short.

 Keeping Her Good Looks

Painting Endeavour is not only important to ensure she looks her best, but also to preserve the wooden structure. Thanks to efforts by David Spurgeon we hope to obtain the necessary paint free of charge from a manufacturer.

Finlay Marshall will be leading a team to apply the paint in the spring. He would be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to help out. 

The underwater part of Endeavour's hull will be anti-fouled by Finlay's crew at Dauntless Boatyard, when her stern tube, propeller and steering will also be serviced.

 

 Youth at the Helm

All of us advanced in age, (and some of us are at the 'everest' end), are looking at getting younger enthusiast involved.

David Norman is contacting all the yacht and sailing clubs in the area to offer some sailing on Endeavour with a view of them becoming regular crew and then possibly another skipper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer 2009 Newsletter

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Endeavour Annual General Meeting

The AGM of the Endeavour Trust will take place at 7:30 pm at New Road Methodist Church in Old Leigh on Friday 23rd of October 2009.

All members are invited to attend.

 

Apologies

Due to a technical issue, we are currently unable to provide the full newsletter online. We will ensure this is rectified as soon as possible, but please accept our apologies in the meantime.

SPRING 2009 NEWS

 Endeavour Annual Dinner

Once again a super meal on the ex-minesweeper Wilton in Leigh. This time it's in June. The tide will be in, so it's all set for a lovely evening out. 

Friday 19th June 19:30 Hours

3 Course dinner £16.50 per person

Tickets are going fast, so please contact Reta Cocks to ensure your booking.

 Sailing Programme

	Endeavour has been invited to the Chatham Historic Ships Rally on 26th June when a whole flotilla of vessels will be gathering. It will be a great event and the possibility exists to either go over with Endeavour or return with her - please note your interest on the Sailing Form.
"What's that down there?" Restorers, electrician and Mike King discuss what needs to be done at the Brightlingsea winter site

 Other Noteworthy Events

August 1-7 Cadet Week at the Essex Yacht Club
August 14 Southend Barge Match starting at the end of Southend Pier
August 23 Leigh Fishing Festival based around Bell Wharf/Victoria Wharf in Old Leigh

 Spring is Sprung, The Grass is Riz,' I Wonder Where Endeavour Is?

She's back in Leigh after her winter tidy up, all ready for the sailing season. Some work was undertaken by her restorers Brian and Shaun, with much painting and varnishing by Finlay Marshall, who also acted as crew when our sailing secretary Jeremy Squier moved her to and from Brightlingsea. 

 

So she is ready for you to see and possibly have a trip on her. The sailing programme is noted elsewhere in the newsletter, but she will probably be available at many other times. 

 

We can only advise you of availability if you let us know that you want to experience Endeavour under way. To register your interest, please complete the sailing form. We will contact you when a suitable occasion arises.

 Nostalgia Corner

	Where we found her in Kent, with all sorts of weird junk around her.
Re-Christening at Bell Wharf with admiring crowd watching the event.
	Dave Spurgeon many years ago! - now a Trustee.

Spring 2009 Newsletter

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 Here She Comes

No sailing is devoid of effort or movement, but the comparative lightness of dinghy spars is a million miles away from Endeavour's heavy spars.

 

Although her mainsail is loose footed (it does not have a spar at the bottom) it is itself made of heavy material, and the top spar or gaff is weighty too. Considerable effort is needed to raise the sail, and one had to be aware of its power when tacking as the sail charges across the boat.

Incidentally, the skipper of the power boat being used by the photographer wisely took evasive action before Endeavour's bowsprit turned all the occupants into kebabs!

 You and You and You!

In the armed forces, that was how one 'volunteered' but we are much more friendly! However, we do need volunteers to do some sanding, varnishing and painting. 

Most work will be under cover at Jeremy Squier's yard in Canewdon, but all the blocks (see picture on page 3) for instance, could be done at home. 

Sergeant Major Finlay Marshall is in charge.

 A Few Improvements

When we set out to trying to answer for restore Endeavour, great care was taken to have her exactly as she was when launched in 1924.

Many visitors have commended us on how traditional she is. The only 'improvements' made at restoration stage were the addition of modern instrumentation and modern sailcloth, that faithfully replicated the original material.

Back in 1924, the average local person would probably be involved in a bit of scrumping, but today's serious thieving is rife in the boating world - probably because items can be readily sold. We therefore need a secure locker in the hold for life jackets, fenders and warps as it is easy to gain access to the hold itself, because the boards that go over the large opening cannot be secured in position.

We propose to rectify the security situation and Brian Kennell, who carried out the original restoration with Shaun White, is going to undertake some modifications to the hold area - none of which will affect the look of Endeavour. This will all take place at Brightlingsea where Brian is working on the Thames barge Thalatta. Some re-wiring will also be done together with a service of the Lester engine.

Mike King will be responsible for keeping an eagle eye on the work as it progresses. None of this is of course without cost and demonstrates the need for your continued membership to the Endeavour Trust.

 Where Is She?

A question often asked, and one which we are often trying to answer for everyone. The photo shows a sign,  provided by Ken Myall Signs, which is in a prominent position on the west face of Osborne's building in the Old Town. Our thanks go to both these companies for providing their services and the site respectively.

There are two moorings in Leigh that are available to us; one to the east of the Two Tree slipway provided by Richard King, and the other just off Old Leigh, level with the east end of the bridge, provided by Reta Cocks. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages - Endeavour floats much earlier at Two Tree and so it is more useful when Endeavour is being used - but it is several hundred yards from the slipway and consequently not easy to spot. The Old Town mooring is great for public viewing, but she'll only be afloat for a little time each side of high water.

So, how do we plan to use the facilities to the best effect? Wherever Endeavour has an imminent sailing day or days, she will be moved from 'the viewing mooring' (VM) to Two Tree ready for action, and will return to VM only when no other sailing is planned. A dinghy will be placed in Old Leigh for boarding, towed to Two Tree and kept ashore there ready for the next boarding, and will return to VM with Endeavour.

All this is under the auspices of the Vice-President Jeremy Squier, who has assumed the role of 'Sailing Secretary'. He will always know where Endeavour is at any one time, and has a list of available skippers and crew. 

 

 Lest We Forget

A report from the Vice-Admiral Dover on Dunkirk work done by the Leigh Boats.

 

COCKLE BAWLEY BOATS	31 May 1940
12:30	The flotilla of 6 boats (including Endeavour LO41 - Skipper P O Halls) left Southend for Dunkirk, in company
14:10	Passed Margate roads. The flotilla was ordered to proceed direct to Dunkirk
18:20/18:40	Air attacks. The flotilla scattered
18:50	Spitfires drove off enemy attack. At least 5 German planes crashed into the sea
19:15	Dunkirk roads
19:30	Found it impracticable for the boats to work off the beach
21:30	The boats embarked troops from outside Dunkirk jetty, transferring them to the Sk Tilly and other ships
22:40	The swell made the work difficult, so the flotilla, in formation, entered the harbour
23:50/1 June 01:45ca	The flotilla embarked about 200 troops, 100 of which were transferred by 4 of the Bawley boats to the drifter Sarah Hayes the remainder to other ships. From then on the Bawley boats worked independently.

 All Aboard

Give our lovely lady a fair wind and she certainly moves.

This picture was taken when she was giving youngsters a taste of what sailing used to be like.

Although many of the cadets have sailed in modern dinghies - Toppers, Lasers etc - Endeavour is a totally different sort of sailing.

"They all come off the boat with a broad 'Endeavour Smile'," says Paul Gilson.

 

 

A Great Evening

Our annual dinner was very successful as you can see from the slightly fuzzy photographs. We have decided to change the date but not the venue for our next outing which will be late Spring/early Summer on the Wilton. Watch this space - we will keep you informed on the details.


Expert Restorer Brian Kennell with professional boat painter Debbie Cannon

John Milgate, our restoration guru with Saun White

Who's that just come in?

 

 Model Behaviour

A model of Endeavour in her shrimping days

 

Summer 2008 Newsletter

 SUMMER 2008 NEWS

A Change at the Top

Mike King, Chairman of the Management Committee that raised the money to restore Endeavour, has decided to step down.

Mike has been at the helm since 2001 when both the Endeavour Trust and the Management Committee, overseeing the day-to-day running, were established and has seen Endeavour restored from a very poor condition to her present excellent state.

Mike recalls his first sight of and subsequent involvement in Endeavour, "When Mike Guy from the Leigh Times, Peter Wexham, a previous owner, the late John Porter and I went to Kent and saw Endeavour it was obvious that we couldn't just leave her to rot. We agreed then to move her to Leigh and she returned on a huge low loader to be welcomed back to her home-town.

Much activity, both in money raising and physical work, resulted in a sparkling Endeavour going back to Dunkirk four years later. I am grateful to the many people who have put in a lot of hard work during the restoration."

He continued, "I would especially like to mention Reta Cocks, Finlay Marshall and Peter Dolby. The last two of these sailed with skipper Paul Gilson to Dunkirk in 2005; both are now involved in the Management Committee. Finlay is responsible for the upkeep of Endeavour and Peter has agreed to take over from me as Management Committee Chair.

"Peter is no stranger to Leigh and has many recent successes to his name from chairing the Leigh-on-Sea Town Council for two years to making a great success of the Leigh Fishing Festival. Both Peter's father Russell and grandfather were Leigh fishermen, and I feel that Peter is the ideal choice to take over the Chair."

The Endeavour Trust itself, which is a Registered Charity, is separate from the Management Committee that looks after, and is responsible to the Endeavour Trust for, the day-to-day operations of Endeavour. Mike King has not severed all his connections with the Endeavour as he will retain his position as Chairman of the Endeavour Trust and stay on the Management Committee.

 AGM and Accounts

The icons below link to the Annual General Meeting agenda, minutes and Chairman's report from August 2008 and the Balance Sheet and Accounts of the Endeavour Trust from 2008.

AGM Agenda	AGM Minutes	Chairman's Report	Balance Sheet & Accounts

All documents are in Adobe PDF format. If you do not have Adobe PDF Reader, you can download it by clicking here. To save documents to your hard drive, place your mouse over the relevant icon, right click and select 'Save'.

 

 What an Evening!

Over eighty happy diners sat down on the Wilton, headquarters of the Essex Yacht Club, for a great evening on Friday 30th May.  The evening was a joint exercise by Reta Cocks, Heather and Paul Gilson, and was deemed to be a great success.  Those present included veterans Frank Grove and Bill Reynolds, ably looked after by Bill's grandson. 

 

Also most welcome were John Milgate, Brian Kennell and Shaun White who were responsible for advice and restoration of our lovely Endeavour, A splendid evening  aboard  the Wilton and who were  accompanied by their respective spouses.

 

The evening was enlivened by a spirited discourse between Reta and Peter Dolby, while the latter showed the initial draft of the PowerPoint slide presentation designed for use at presentations to schools and other gatherings.

 

 Mooring - the Final Solution

Previous Newsletters have detailed the dilemma of where to keep Endeavour, trying to balance the demands of easy access and visibility with safety and prevention of vandalism. Thanks to the generosity of Endeavour Trust member Richard King, we now have a mooring to the East of Two Tree Island slipway, to the South of the main creek.  Richard has also made space available for a dinghy on the rack to get crew out to Endeavour from the slipway.

 

  What? No Water?

Spring was a little late this year, and so were the tides. Endeavour spent her winter in Leigh Marina and was pulled out for the spring clean, paint and anti-foul, but then got fouled up (ugh!) and stranded. Finlay and his merry painters did a grand job, but unfortunately re-enter into the water of Leigh creek was somewhat delayed.

 

 Safety Afloat

Sailing is a lovely pastime, and when it is done in a classic like Endeavour, it is doubly enjoyable.  However, pleasure can easily turn to disaster if safety rules are ignored.  Your Committee was very lucky to lure the Deputy Leader of Southend Council to undertake a full safety evaluation of Endeavour.  John Lamb - no mean sailor himself - used to conduct these evaluations in his professional life.  He spent some time on the Endeavour and drew up a full Risk Assessment.

 

As a result of this, we now have special purpose made webbing straps, running the length of the boat on both sides.  Anyone progressing along the decks wearing the special life jackets with harness can clip on and be quite safe.  Passengers, also wearing life jackets, are in the hold area where they can see all that goes on, and are safely out of the way.

 

 Eel Fishing - Dave Spurgeon, one time skipper/owner of Endeavour

"I would like to dedicate this story to the memory of Dudley Cooper, who was sadly lost overboard in the river Crouch in June 2007.  A good friend lost." - Dave Spurgeon

 

The Endeavour over the course of a year had to do lots of different jobs as the seasons went by. White weeding as well as angling parties in the winter, shrimping, fishing for Dover Soles and eel fishing in the summer. For small boats to catch eels, you had to 'pair trawl' for them. This is achieved by towing a big net in-between two boats. I used to pair trawl with my friend, Dudley Cooper. We had been fishing in the river Crouch for about two weeks. Most eel fishing is done at night. We had been catching 150 to 250lbs of eels each night.

 

This particular night, as we went aboard at Walasea Marina it started raining. By the time we had steamed up to Fambridge to start fishing, it had turned from slight rain to the worst rain storm for years. We could see lights moving about behind the sea wall. These belonged to water board men opening the sluice gates in the dykes to let the water go into the river (they were hand operated in those days). We started fishing, and after about an hour we hauled and caught about 60 to 70lbs of eels. We then moved up river a bit and shot the net again. This time we had about 300lbs of eels. 

 

"This is really good," Dudley said, "So let's move up again and have another go." So we went up river just below Hullbridge and shot the net again. When we hauled about an hour later, I said to Dudley that we had caught something heavy in the net.

 

What happened next, I will remember for the rest of my life. When we got the net to the side of the boat, we could see it was all fish; hundreds and hundreds of pounds of eels. Now we had a problem. Where to keep them? You have to swim eels for about 36 hours before you can send them to market. By putting eels into wooden boxes with lots of holes in them, the water flows through the boxes keeping them alive. They also empty their gut and then they stay alive for weeks with just a trickle of running water on them. Anyway, back to the story; we had enough eel boxes for about 800lbs of eels. We found an old eel net in the hold of the Endeavour and tied up one end. We put the rest of the eels into the net and tied up the other end.

 

We put floats all along the net to keep it up and left the eels to swim well. What a night! The biggest rain storm in years and the best catch the Endeavour had ever had. 36 hours later, we sent the eels to Billingsgate market. When we got our tally back from the market we were paid for 1,100 lbs of eels!

 

This for two small boats was just fantastic. The best night's work Dudley and myself had ever had. Well done the Endeavour.

 

"Hallo, Hal-lo 41"

"Why has that green boat got LO41 on it?" asked a small boy.

"Because it's a tripper boat and the manager calls out "Hal-lo 41" when he wants it back in," said the ill-informed father.