Various members of the Management Committee have been busy giving talks to clubs and schools around the borough. The Trust has an obligation to explain Endeavour's place in history.
Our treasurer, Chris Bailey, has spoken to Rotary Club members and Finlay Marshall has been to two primary schools this year and we hope to visit others during the year. Students at Our Lady of Lourdes were doing an art project and the top three will sail aboard Endeavour during the summer.
Community Day in Bonchurch Park
There will be over 30 stalls apart from us including, Leigh Lions, Royal British Legion, the RNLI and Essex County Fire and Rescue Services. To entertain the crowd will be Broadway Belles, Talking Tots, Leigh Starlite Majorettes, Leigh on Sea Theatre train and the Feel Good Choir.
The fun starts at 1pm until 4pm. The Endeavour gazebo will be on site containing our latest merchandise and invitations to join the Trust and take part in preserving an important part of the town's history.
A Proud Leigh Man
An early supporter of Endeavour when she returned to Leigh was David Johnson who had the task of auditing our accounts each year. He died in April.
David grew up in the Old Town when his father took over the former Sutton and Wiggins boatyard. They had moved to Wakering where it is now Sutton's Boatyard. In Leigh, Johnson Sons and Jago was formed with Len Johnson working the yard after Mr Jago was drowned. David learned about boats and took a particular interest in engineering.
David grew up in the Old Town when his father took over the former Sutton and Wiggins boatyard. They had moved to Wakering where it is now Sutton's Boatyard. In Leigh, Johnson Sons and Jago was formed with Len Johnson working the yard after Mr Jago was drowned. David learned about boats and took a particular interest in engineering.
Down by the Riverside - Summer Reception Announced
The Hoy Shantymen will be on hand to entertain us while we enjoy fish and chips, beer from the Leigh Brewery and ice cream. Needless to say we shall be holding a raffle during the evening. If anyone is able to donate prizes for the raffle, please contact Chris Bailey or Finlay Marshall.
As mentioned elsewhere we need to have a lot of work done on the boat next winter and your participation in the evening helps defray costs.
A booking form is downloadable from here.
Tickets for this year's event are £16 per person.
Letitia Comes Back to Home Waters
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Through a Fog Darkly
Going to sea in fog is not the ideal way to earn a living, but in post-war Britain times were tough. Rationing was still in force until the '50s, wages were low and Endeavour and the rest of Leigh's boats had to go to sea. Joe Deal was skipper then and his crew included the late George Cocks whose reminiscences we have touched on in the past, and who wrote the following account: ‘One morning it was very cold, dark and foggy when Bill and I went down to the boat. Other fishermen were moaning about the horrible weather with quite few wanting to go back home. Dawn was trying to cut through the fog and I said to Bill, "Are we going out?"
He replied, "We shall go when the trees come clear on Two Tree Island.”’
Dunkirk Memorial Service at St Clements
St Clements Church is holding a memorial service to remember and commemorate the fisherman of Leigh who went to Dunkirk on June 1st 1940 to help rescue the British forces trapped there.
Prayers will be said for the crew of Renown, Frank Osborne, Harry Osborne, Harry Noakes and Harold Graham Porter who gave their lives in the service of their countrymen.
The simple service will be a mixture of remembrance, music, readings and prayer, including two minutes silence and a recitation of The Losing of the Renown.
A chance to remember, with thanks, the role of Leigh in the history of this nation.
All are welcome.
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter
Please drop us a line if you have any comments, or visit us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EndeavourTrustLeigh/
Historic Voyages Home and Abroad
"This could be Endeavour's busiest year and the most ambitious," Paul Gilson told members of the management committee at their January meeting as he outlined plans to take the boat where she has never been before.
In June of this year it will be the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France which led to the end of World War II. The Dunkirk Little Ships have been invited to be escort two ships in the Solent as they leave Portsmouth for Normandy.
Later this year the boats have been asked to be part of the Belgian port of Antwerp's events to remember the town's liberation. Antwerp had been by-passed by the Allies as they pushed the German army back to the Rhine. It took until September 1944 to liberate the citizens.
Endeavour hopes to take part in both events which will be exciting first voyages for boat and crew. Paul explained: "These trips will take some organisation. They are long voyages involving sailing in waters we are not familiar with. We may have to split crews in order for everyone who wants to take part to be part of historic events."
Provisionally, the plan is for Endeavour to rendezvous with the ADLS boats at Ramsgate on May 27th. The fleet would then sail in convoy to either Eastbourne or Brighton and thence to Portsmouth with the chance to visit Itchenor, Beaulieu River and historic Buckler's Hard.
The boats will moor in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in Navy facilities with the chance to visit HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum. Crews and skippers will attend a reception aboard Victory on Saturday 2nd June. On June 2nd the boats will escort a commercial ferry with D-Day veterans heading to France leaving them at Nab Tower. The ADLS boats will then head to Cowes where they will sail past the Royal Yacht Squadron before mooring in their harbour. Ships will host RYS members aboard their boats.
The following day they will be guests of the RYS at a lunch and the next day will depart for home.
The Antwerp trip departs from Ramsgate on September 1 for Nieuport, Belgium and the next day will head through the canals to the beautiful city of Bruges. Boats will then proceed to Ghent and by September 5th or 6th will moor in Antwerp's Willemdock. On September 7th the boats will join a parade on the River Scheldt. It is possible the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part.
In June of this year it will be the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France which led to the end of World War II. The Dunkirk Little Ships have been invited to be escort two ships in the Solent as they leave Portsmouth for Normandy.
Later this year the boats have been asked to be part of the Belgian port of Antwerp's events to remember the town's liberation. Antwerp had been by-passed by the Allies as they pushed the German army back to the Rhine. It took until September 1944 to liberate the citizens.
Endeavour hopes to take part in both events which will be exciting first voyages for boat and crew. Paul explained: "These trips will take some organisation. They are long voyages involving sailing in waters we are not familiar with. We may have to split crews in order for everyone who wants to take part to be part of historic events."
Provisionally, the plan is for Endeavour to rendezvous with the ADLS boats at Ramsgate on May 27th. The fleet would then sail in convoy to either Eastbourne or Brighton and thence to Portsmouth with the chance to visit Itchenor, Beaulieu River and historic Buckler's Hard.
The boats will moor in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in Navy facilities with the chance to visit HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum. Crews and skippers will attend a reception aboard Victory on Saturday 2nd June. On June 2nd the boats will escort a commercial ferry with D-Day veterans heading to France leaving them at Nab Tower. The ADLS boats will then head to Cowes where they will sail past the Royal Yacht Squadron before mooring in their harbour. Ships will host RYS members aboard their boats.
The following day they will be guests of the RYS at a lunch and the next day will depart for home.
The Antwerp trip departs from Ramsgate on September 1 for Nieuport, Belgium and the next day will head through the canals to the beautiful city of Bruges. Boats will then proceed to Ghent and by September 5th or 6th will moor in Antwerp's Willemdock. On September 7th the boats will join a parade on the River Scheldt. It is possible the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part.
Thames Trips
The dates for the Windsor trip are yet to be confirmed but last year Endeavour's voyage was eventful in the searing heat. But, it is a real privilege to meet the knights and their families and the sight of a cockle boat that far upriver occasions ribald comments from walkers on shore.
Skipper Gilson sometimes likes to leave for this trip in the middle of the night in order to make Staines and our hotel! The return trip also involves lack of sleep but seeing London at dawn is an experience.
The voyage to Hampton Court is equally fun. On the 14th the little ships embark veterans of modern conflicts from Malaya to Cyprus, Korea, the Falklands and Northern Ireland. On the Sunday, surviving World War II servicemen and women come aboard.
Our treasurer, Chris Bailey is arranging for Bank of England Sailing Club members to take the boat under sail to Whitstable and back during the summer. These former colleagues of Chris are younger and fitter than Endeavour's crew and more used to handling sails. This trip will be on a Ray Day with the boat departing in the morning and returning in the evening.
There will be room for a few members to join them. If you would be interested in joining any of the cruises, be advised, we can only let two people sleep aboard. This means we either book into B 'n' Bs or hotels. Sometimes there is room on the posh boats to put up crew. This usually involves buying lots of wine, beer or dinner...
If you think you can stand it, call Membership Secretary Chris Burls on 01702 553274 or email him.
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