Issue 2 Jan 2004
January 2004
Newsletter No. 2
Since our “Newsletter No 1” back in May, we hope that you enjoyed the excellent weather of the past Summer and take this opportunity of wishing you a very Happy New Year.
The final lecture in our “Spring 2003” series last May was on “Ipswich Wet Dock” - a fascinating story taking us from the Port’s earliest days to the present and future - given by ABP’s Capt. John Swift and
Martin O’Hara which played to another ‘full house’ at the Waterfront Centre.
Our “Summer Events” were also very successful. The “Sailing Barge Family Heritage Weekend” and “Rally of Tall Ships Weekend” in June and July were very well attended as was The “Ipswich Heritage Weekend” in September. These each brought hundreds of visitors to the Dock and into the Waterfront Centre for exhibitions, each on a different theme. We have a further series of our Wednesday evening lectures already arranged for early 2004 and
hope you will be able to attend. Details as are follows:
Winter Programme 2004
• Wednesday, Feb. 4th
. Nick Wright of The Suffolk Wildlife Trust on “Wildlife of the Orwell Estuary”.
A fascinating talk, beautifully illustrated, on all aspects of nature on and around the river.
• Wednesday, March 3rd
. Jack Haste will give an illustrated talk entitled “The River Gipping and its Navigation” which includes the development of the waterway, the vessels which used it …. and its demise. Jack owns the “Yare”, an original Packard Gipping Barge, now his houseboat at Pin Mill.
• Wednesday, April 7th
. Richard Smith, a founder member of the Trust and author of several books on local maritime matters, will give an illustrated talk on “Thames Barges in Suffolk”. A subject on which he is a great authority.
Each lecture commences at 19.30hrs. There will be no entrance charge this season - rather, we ‘suggest’ a donation to the Trust of £2.50 per head. As these events are proving so popular and seating is limited, we suggest you book at least a week in advance by contacting Des Pawson, our Chairman, whose contact details are given below.
Summer Events in the Dock
• June 10th. about 65-70 Dutch yachts - accompanied by the “Oosterscheldt” as mothership - will rally in the Dock, departing on Saturday the 12th. June.
• June 19th. sees the Gravesend to Pin Mill Barge Passage Match when most of the competitors will lie in the Dock during the following week awaiting the …….. ………...• Pin Mill Barge Match on Saturday, June 26th
.
Developments Ashore
As mentioned in our last Newsletter, our hopes of obtaining a Maritime Display Area within the redeveloped Cranfields Mill have now reached fruition! All Parties involved in the development are supporting us and we are now in the process of discussing details! Coupled with this project, we are increasingly aware that there are very many maritime artefacts in the area. Several generous owners have already come forward to offer us a wide range of fascinating items.
To accept these and further offers, we need somewhere now where they can be documented, conserved and stored; it is probable that space will be available within the Cranfields Mill Development for this but our immediate need is for a suitable dry, secure storage area. If any reader has, or knows of, such a space, please let us know by contacting Des Pawson - details below. Alternatively, a sound 40' shipping container would be ideal (ABP have kindly offered us a space for one),
Keeping in touch
Our “database” of those interested in local maritime matters is increasing. To help us keep in touch with you, we plan to continue these Newsletters but, to increase efficiency and save costs, would
appreciate being able to send these by e-mail where possible.