Just a reminder about Lifeboat Day this Saturday 25th July
We will have lots of information for you to view as well as stories for you to take away and read.
Photos, Caps, Fleeces will be available to buy or order. Internet access will be available to view our sites and a nice model of a typical Fleetwood trawler that sailed to Iceland.
We hope to see you at the stall. Just look for the FMHT Banner.
This week in the Fleetwood Weekly News an article was posted about the Criscilla. The article was incorrect and was making reference to a different vessel of the same name. The article that was published can be found here.
I would like to point out the differences between the two vessels.
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The details for the vessel referenced in the article are as follows.
Built: 1972
Name: Hammond Innes
Official Number: 359149
Port Reg: H180
Length: 191′ 0” ft
Breadth: 37′ 1” ft
Gross Tonnage: 897
Owner when built: Newington Trawlers Ltd
Notes
In 1977 she was sold to a company in Canada as research Vessel and renamed Lady Hammond.
In 1996 she was sold to MVM J Marr rebuilt as a Fishery patrol vessel and renamed Criscilla.
Below is an image of the Criscilla from the article as a fisheries patrol vessel. Click image for a larger view.
Hammond Innes after being sold and renamed Criscilla
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The Criscilla that was registered at Fleetwood is as follows.
Built: 1966
Name: Criscilla
Official Number: 308713
Port Reg: FD261
Length: 185 ft
Breadth: 36′ 1” ft
Gross Tonnage: 952
Owner when built: J Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood
Notes
J Marr & Son Fleetwood owned the Criscilla FD261 until 1979 when they sold her to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough for use as a research survey vessel and renamed COLONEL TEMPLER.
Below is an image of the Criscilla FD261 after being sold and renamed Colonel Templer. Click image for a larger view.
Criscilla when renamed to Colonel Templer
For more images and history/technical details of the Criscilla FD261 please click here.
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I understand how easy it is to get these two vessels mixed up as i did so myself when first looking into the history of the Criscilla. I hope this post has helped iron out any confusion between the two vessels.
In 1859 Fleetwood recieved its first dedicated lifeboat. After 150 years in service the Fleetwood station is still going strong and last year was the busiest station in the North.
To celebrate the 150 years of service there will be plenty going on all year round. Aswell as the traditional Lifeboat day on the 25th July. Lifeboat day will include the Jacinta Sailpast, Evening Do at Marine Hall, Army participation, Display of models of old lifeboats aswell as Royal Navy participation. Plus much more.
For more information on planned events click here.
A fishing smack which is being restored at Fleetwood Museum is to go on display in April
Harriet FD 111 was built in 1893 and is the last surviving fishing smack built in Fleetwood and one of the oldest fishing vessels in the country.
The 64ft craft was brought back to Fleetwood in 1998 and is stored in a boat hall to the rear of Fleetwood Museum where enthusiasts have cared for her.
When the museum reopens in April the doors of the hall will be opened to the public to see what will be a prized exhibit.
In the 1970s the vessel was one of the oldest working of her type still operating in Britain. Her career ended in 1978 and she was abandoned in the Duddon Estuary north of Barrow where she rapidly deteriorated. She was rescued for a short time when she featured in the Challenge Anneka TV show and transformed a play space for disabled children, adding a focal point for children to play.
But she eventually into disuse and was rescued by Lancashire County Museums Service because of her historical importance.
Local history enthusiast Dick Gillingham, who is a member of the Friends of Fleetwood Museum, is behind the plans to display the vessel.
He said it was time for the public to see the heritage vessel.
Harriet FD 111 leaving Fleetwood docks.
A huge euro hand-out to Belgian fishermen has been slammed an insult to Fleetwood.
Paul Nuttall, the UK Independence Party’s lead North West candidate in the Euro elections, says the taxes of Fleetwood fishermen are to be used to subsidise the Belgian fleet despite it “harming their livelihood”.
The 52.5 million Euros subsidy has been approved by the European Commission over a six year period. Half of it 26.3 million is coming from the Belgian government which is match funding an EU grant.
“It is a disgrace that Fleetwood trawlermen’s taxes are going to subsidise the Belgian beam trawler fleet” said Mr Nuttall.
“For years the Belgians have been destroying the stocks in the Irish Sea with their large beam trawlers, decimating Fleetwood’s historic industry”
“The fact that the Belgians are getting nigh on £50,000 per head, while our government refuses to help is a national disgrace,” said Mr Nuttall.
But a spokeswoman for government department DEFRA (the department for fishing and rural affairs) said UKIP had missed the point because Britain had also match-funded a similar EU subsidy for UK fishermen.
A DEFRA spokesperson said, Fleetwood fishermen can bid now for a share of more than £60 million, half of which is government math-funding, under the European Fisheries Fund grants scheme. We announced this three months ago.
This is a significant amount of money and will help make the industry more sustainable.
Controversy over the Belgian and Dutch was particularly strong when Fleetwood’s now tiny fishing fleet was larger in the 1980′s and 90′s.
The Common Fisheries Policy, which in theory brought in quota resections to preserve fish stocks, also allowed EU boats to “share” fishing grounds of fellow member nations.
This meant that when Fleetwood boats were tied for conservation reasons, much larger bean trawlers from the continent still had quota right to scoop up white fish in the Irish Sea.
Details of how to apply are available from the Marine and Fisheries Agency
; http://www.mfa.gov.uk/grants/grants.htm
A memorial service to remember the crews of three Hull trawlers lost at sea takes place in January. A coach trip for people from Fleetwood who would like to attend is being organised.
The trawler tragedies happend over 40 years ago. In just one month the St Romanus, Kingston Peridot and Ross Cleveland trawlers were lost. Only one man survived from the crews of all the vessels, Harry Eddom, first mate on the Ross Cleveland. He was washed up on the Icelandic coast clinging to a life raft. He is still alive today but refuses to speak about the tragedy.
More than 6,000 Hull trawlermen have been lost at sea in the last 100 years.
The service is due to take place on January 27th 2009 at the Lockhead in St Andrew’s Dock. Hundreds of people are expected to gather for prayers and hymns.
If anyone would like to attend, please contact John Hardingham on 01253 875678 or Carole Newsham on 01253 874136.
A statement by Wyre Borough Council said: “The difficult decision to remove what remains of the fire-ravaged structure was made today following visits earlier in the week from English Heritage and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) combined with the findings of a structural engineer’s report.”
All parties are in agreement the structure is too unstable and has deteriorated to a point where it cannot remain.
A report, prepared on behalf of pier owners Simmo Developments, advises the concrete platform at the very end of the pier should also be demolished.
“As a result all parties have now agreed the remainder of the historic structure should be removed in the interests of public safety,” the statement added.
“All of the cast iron columns have already been removed along with any hazardous material on the site.
“Work has also begun to demolish the main pier building which bore the brunt of the fire.
“It is expected that the site will be completely cleared within two to three weeks.
“In the meantime the whole site, including access from the beach, will be cordoned off.”
The pier was devastated by a blaze on September 9.
Police are still investigating the cause of the fire which is still being described as “unexplained”.
Although no evidence of foul play has yet been found, detectives are not ruling out arson.
Earlier this week the pier’s owners, Simmo Developments, who are headed by Blackpool entertainer Joey Blower, put up a substantial reward for information from anyone who knew how the fire started.
Today’s official announcement was feared ever since it was discovered the metal columns which supported the much-loved boardwalk were damaged beyond repair.
Garry Payne, director of planning and regeneration for Wyre Council, said: “Regrettably, the demolition of the complete pier structure would now seem the only course of action available.
“The structural report presented to the council was presented with concluded that the remaining elements were in such poor condition that they needed to be removed for safety reasons.”
Council leader Coun Russell Forsyth added: “Complete demolition of the pier is an outcome very few people would have wanted, but our first priority has always been to ensure the safety of the public.
“A very difficult decision had to be made.
“However, it was taken following full and frank discussions with building experts who have all shared the same view.”
Images
Fleetwood Pier being demolished - Click for a larger view
The fire service said the pier has been completely destroyed
About 60 firefighters tackled the blaze, which they said was already well alight by the time they arrived. Police said the pier was “completely gutted”.
Investigators will look into the fire’s cause later but said it was too early to say if it was started deliberately.
A spokeswoman said 10 fire engines, a major incident support unit, a mobile fire station and two aerial ladder platforms had been sent to the scene.
The pier was opened in 1910. Picture courtesy of Andy Wilson
The fire in the Lancashire resort, just north of Blackpool, is believed to have started near the front of the pier by a former pub and cafe.
Fire crews have been pumping water from a boating lake a mile away to help control the blaze but said the structure had been completely destroyed.
The surrounding roads have been closed off though the fire is now said to be under control.
Cathy Stacey from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Most of the pier has been destroyed – certainly the buildings on it.
“The concrete structure that forms the base of the pier is still intact and the metal supporting beams.”
Fire crews said they expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day. The fire brigade are spraying water on it but apart from that I think there’s not a lot else they can do
Eric Smallman, eye witness
Eric Smallman, owner of the Savoy Hotel opposite the pier, witnessed the blaze.
He said: “Fifty per cent of the pier has actually collapsed – the other 50% is pretty well ablaze.
“The flames are starting to come through what’s left of the main building.
“The fire brigade are spraying water on it but apart from that I think there’s not a lot else they can do.”
The fire started in the early hours.
Sheila Grace, 60, was born in Fleetwood and owns the nearby Sandpipers Hotel on the Esplanade.
The fire started in the early hours. Picture courtesy of Sharon Bailey
She said it was a sad end for the pier: “I know things have changed, but it was the jewel in Fleetwood’s crown, everybody headed there and everybody knew it, and in the last few years it has been just nothing.”
Businesswoman Diana Christy, 59, added: “A lot of local residents have been saying that it will go up in smoke for a long time because it’s been empty and in disrepair for years.
“This is the last thing that Fleetwood needed right now.”
Fleetwood Pier was rebuilt in 1953 after being damaged by a fire in 1952.
The blaze on 25 August 1952 started in the cinema and created an inferno that could be seen from 20 miles away.
The attraction was first built in 1910 – the last to be constructed in the “golden age” of pier building, from 1860 to 1910.
It was built with a promenade deck and 600ft long jetty with an ornate oriental-style pavilion, which opened to the public in 1911.
All the buildings on the pier are destroyed. Picture by Chris Morton
The pier continued to remain profitable throughout the declining years of the seaside resort, even receiving a £70,000 facelift in 1972.
But in recent years it has gone through changes of ownership and uncertainty over its future.
The pier was sold to a Lancashire businessman for about £500,000 last year.
All the buildings on the pier are destroyed.
But hundreds of people signed a petition objecting to the plans.
The blaze comes less than six weeks after a fire destroyed the 104-year-old pier in the Somerset resort of Weston-super-Mare in July.
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