All the latest news and developments will now
be here the latest will appear at the top
Please donate to the
George Elmy Restoration Fund
(East-Durham Heritage
Group)
Your help would be
greatly appreciated
Wednesday 13th
april 2011
The George Elmy Heritage Project backed by the
Heritage Lottery Fund
The George Elmy Heritage Project has been awarded
£50,000 from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an
exciting heritage project based in East Durham it
was announced today.
The project, led by the East Durham Heritage Group,
will explore the rich maritime, social and
industrial history of East Durham, focussing
particularly on the George Elmy lifeboat. Built in
1949, the boat has a long history. In November 1962,
the boat was involved in a terrible accident that
had a huge impact on the local community; the boat
still remains of huge importance today.
The vessel will be fully restored to its original
state and will be used as an interactive learning
tool for the surrounding community in the run up to
the 50th anniversary of the George Elmy disaster in
2012. It will form the basis of a Heritage Learning
Programme which aims to encourage local people,
including school children and community groups, to
learn more about this fascinating part of their
local heritage. A series of workshops, activities
and educational sessions will be put in place,
exploring in detail the boats history and the effect
it had on the people living and working in the area
at the time.
The East Durham Heritage Group is run by 12 local
dedicated volunteers who want to share their passion
for the vessel with as many people as possible. They
will engage new volunteers to assist with all parts
of the project.
Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North East,
Ivor Crowther, said;
"People are at the heart of all HLF projects and
this one demonstrates that perfectly. Run by
volunteers who really care about their heritage and
who want to involve as many people as possible. The
George Elmy Lifeboat is of huge local significance
and deserves to be restored and used as an
educational tool for the community. We are delighted
to be able to support this project and the people
who have worked so hard to make it happen."
A spokesman for The East Durham Heritage Group,
said;
"This is very welcome news; knowing that our
application has been approved means that we are a
significant step closer towards bringing The George
Elmy back to Seaham to complete the journey that it
started on the afternoon of the 17th of November
1962 and which was so tragically terminated within
sight of safety. Completion of the restoration forms
only a part of our plans to bring heritage knowledge
to people and visitors of the area."
We must thank all those that have helped us reach
this point in the project, while there are those
that might be said to be the public face of our
organisation there are many more who work tirelessly
and unseen. Our thanks also must go to the ASDA
Foundation, The Sir James Knott Trust, Durham
Heritage Coast, The County Durham Foundation, The
Co-operative Community Fund, Murton Heritage Society
and Parish Council, Seaham Town Council, the
Chairman of Durham County Council, Councillor Mr.
Mac Williams and those within Durham County Council,
Department of Regeneration and Economic Development
based in Easington Village especially Lynsey
Garraghan and Libby Mahoney and their colleagues
without whose help, we would not have succeeded. We
must thank the adults and children of Timesteps
Dance Group who have fund raised so vigorously on
our behalf and we must not forget to thank those
within the Heritage Lottery Fund for their advice
and encouragement. Lastly but not least a great vote
of thanks must go to the people of Seaham and the
descendants of those lost in the tragedy for their
unstinting support and donations for the project,
without their help our project would not have
reached this stage."
For more information on The East Durham Heritage
Group and The George Elmy Heritage Project please
visit our website
www.seahamlifeboats.oneuk.com
or come along to our Centre at 10 Church Street,
Seaham,
Saturday 7th
August 2010
| The George Elmy Lifeboat has been
stripped cleaned and made ready for the
forthcoming professional rebuild |
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| Picture Showing the Rear end |
|
 |
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| Inside front end |
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 |
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| 2 engines have been purchased and
will be fitted when the lifeboat
is rebuilt. |
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| |
| The Engines have been fitted
digitally just to give view as to what
they will sit like in the engine bay. |
|
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| More Photographs can be
seen on our forum
taken by the people
doing the work |
News Update for January 2010
Saturday 16th January
The coffee Morning at Seaton Community Center
was very successful even though the weather was
atrocious. A big thank you goes to the people of
Seaton who attended and altogether a total of £160
was raised towards the George Elmy Restoration
Fund.It was so successful that over the next year it
will be repeated and dates and times will be posted
Lucy
From Monday
11th January 2010 to Friday 15th January 2010 the
George Elmy Photograph Display will be exhibited in
Seaham Library.
The 13th January 2010 marks the 60th Anniversary of
the Lifeboat's arrival in Seaham.
On Saturday the 16th of January there will be a
Coffee Morning held in Seaton Community Centre from
10 am until 12 noon and the Photographs will be on
display
Week ending January 16th 2010
George Elmy
December 2009 Update
The George Elmy was today moved to Unit 11
Partnership Court Seaham Grange Ind.Est. The unit
will be open from 10am- 2pm Saturday 123th and 19th
December 2009, for viewing. The move went off very
well, no problems. We thank ASHTENNE for their help
with the unit. We also would like to give a MASSIVE
vote of thanks to SEAHAM DOCK COMPANY MANAGEMENT and
STAFF for their help and support since May.
The George Elmy Can be seen at
Unit 11 Partnership Court Seaham Grange Ind.Est.
George
Elmy November 2009 Update
Today 28th November 2009
The group were on duty at
Byron Place. We were all set up for 0945hrs. The
photographic display being a little larger than
previous times, the collection grows.
The group had been busy
making key rings, fridge Magnets etc. the public
were very supportive both with donations and our
petition. At 1400hrs we ended our display and to our
delight a grand total of £230 had been donated.
Another MASSIVE THANK YOU to
the people of Seaham and the surrounding area.
This brings our total in
hand and at bank to £11,105, keep up the good work
and we will reach our target.
ASHTENNE approached the
Group with reference to renting a unit on their
Seaham Grange Industrial Site. The terms look very
good so it looks like the George Elmy will be moving
up there soon.
Hopefully local T.V. and
Press will cover the move. Please watch out for this
news.
Brian Scollen
George Elmy
Update 1st October 2009.
Last night at the New Seaham Cons. Club we held our
latest fundraiser. The event was well attended. Mr
Ron Harker of Redcar brought along his model of the
George Elmy, This attracted much interest from all
parties. A grand total of £1126 was generated. More
events will be held in and around Seaham.
This bring our total in the bank to over £8000 Thank
you one and all for your magnificent effort.
Brian Scollen
George
Elmy update September 26th
2009.
This week we
had the official launch of our project. This was
held at New Seaham Conservative Club, Station Road.
The event was well attended and included members of
local emergency services, youth groups, schools and
local parish councils. Mr D. Glover read a message
from our Hon President Lord Londonderry. Speakers
being the Mayor of Seaham Mrs J. Bell, Mr D. Guy,
Hon. Vice President of the project, Mr B. Myers
Chairman Durham County Council, Mr J. Cummins MP,
Mr. P. Maddison of the City Of Adelaide group
Sunderland. Mr F Crowell boat builder and Mr. B.
Scollen of the group.
We have this
week received a full General Arrangement Drawing of
the boat; this will greatly assist the boat builder
and us. We have also had donated the plaque which
was on the whale back of the George Elmy before the
disaster. A full condition report from Mr. Fred
Crowell with costing for the restoration.
-
Donations this week,
-
An anonymous
donation by a local businessman £4,500,
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The Chairman of
Murton Parish council Mrs J. Maitland £100
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a member of City of
Adelaide Group £200,
-
Mr. Bob Williams of
Blackhall £250
-
Tracy Unwin £10
-
Jean Armfield £20.
Thank you one and all.
George Elmy update
September 5th 2009
Update for George Elmy Restoration Project
I am delighted to inform you that Lord Londonderry,
the 9th Marquis of Londonderry has agreed to be our
Hon. President. While being unable to attend all
meetings I am sure he will be with us in mind. He
remembers the naming ceremony by his mother very
well. He has also sent a very generous donation for
which we are grateful.
Mr. David Guy,
President of the Durham Miners Association has also
agreed to be one of our Hon. Vice Presidents.
All of the primary schools in Seaham have been
visited, they have been asked to back our project,
all have given their full support. The interest
shown at all schools confirms the need for this
project.
The running total of names for our petition of
support are well in excess of 500.
The running total for monies, excluding the purchase
price of the boat now stands at over £2000, this
means that since the 15th May 2009 we have raised
over £4000. Many thanks to all who have donated.
On Tuesday 22nd September 2009 at New Seaham Cons.
Club, we will have the launch of the George Elmy
Restoration Project. Representatives of all local
emergency service will be in attendance also members
of County and Local Councils.
This event starts at 7-30pm, where there will be
displays of images of lifeboats, also memorabilia
from past boats.
Brian Scollen
George Elmy Update August 2009
A long time since last update for which we
apologise.
There has now been two condition surveys completed,
we await the report on the last one. Hopefully we
will have good news shortly. The coverings that we
have been using seem to be doing the trick, not much
water in the boat at the last visit.
Fund raising is still ongoing recently we had a
donation of five hundred pounds by a local business.
A donation of thirty-five pounds from the Oddfellows
in Church Street. Forty-five pounds through our
on-line donation button at East-Durham.co.uk these
donations from K.Duffy, J. Anderson and M.Fraser.
This takes our running total up to over one thousand
four hundred pounds. Well done the people of Seaham.
Thank you Brian Scollen
George Elmy Update
July 2009
George Elmy update for weekending 18th July
2009
This week we have been out and about raising funds
and asking people to sig our Petition of Support. As
in past weeks the people of Seaham have not let us
down.At the Petition Signing in Byron Place on
Thursday 11am-1pm, the response was fantastic over
250 signatures and as a bonus £70 donations.
THANK YOU SHOPPERS.
The fundraiser at Mitchells@Westlea on Friday night
was well supported. Over fifty signatures and the
Fantastic amount of £303 raised. All who attended
had a very good night.
THANK YOU MITCHELLS.
This week we have had donations from,
Seaham Environmental Ass.
Lucy Taylor
Robert Emmerson
How can we forget the shoppers at Byron Place.
Mitchells at Westlea
Total donations this week £473
THANK YOU ALL.
The group will be represented at Seaham Carnival on
Sunday 26th July come along and see us and offer
your support for the project. We are sharing with
the Coast Guards.
Brian Scollen for East Durham Heritage Grou
Last week we made good progress with the boat on
two fronts.
The team at Seaham removed all rubbish from the deck
and also removed the wheelhouse which had been
added, the steel rudder along with four bungs and so
drained out the water. It is now starting to look
like a lifeboat, well done the Seaham team. This
work is shown in the photographs.
We also had some good luck in finding a sister
lifeboat on the Isle of Skye. after checking with
friends on Skye to see if there were any parts we
could use on the George Elmy, photographs were sent
down to us and we decided that it was worth a trip
up there, one to see our friends and two to strip
off parts to use in Seaham. Our thanks go to Graham
and Margaret and John and Effie Ann without whose
help we would not have managed. We did have a good
time both at the boat and the pub as can be seen in
photographs. THANK YOU SKYE.
In the coming week we have a fundraiser at MITCHELLS
at Westlea (Friday 17th July at 8pm, entry £1) and
hope for a good turn out. Also we hope to be in
Byron Place Shopping Centre on Thursday collecting
names for our Petition of Support from the people of
Seaham, please help.
Brian Scollen
