Some time ago during a Saturday Working
Party, we got to discussing a means to make safe the gaping hole in the
aft deck leading to the now cleared aft accommodation. Until recently
access to this area had been by a ladder and the opening screened off
with barriers and chains.
Not long ago I reported that our joiners John Broomby and Gordon Owen
had repaired the companionway steps and fitted handrails, thus making the
means of entry a lot safer. We chatted about the old companionway and
the possibility of one day replacing it, in the meantime we considered
other methods of making the entrance more secure.
Soon after John and Gordon were busily making
patterns from cardboard, taking measurements and generally chatting up
old crew members to add some details. John Deakin remarked that it had
been 'high enough to lean on' and that the entrance had been fitted with
a weatherboard 'about twelve inches high' Armed with these statistics
and the remnants of the original not destroyed by the fire whilst the
'DA' had been at Ellesmere Port, the two set about two large sheets of
ply, which had been purchased for extra deck protection but not used.
John subsequently took these home and that was it until Saturday August
13 when he arrived together with brother David and was soon joined by
Gordon as they unloaded a 'flat pack' companionway ready for
installation!
Some old decking was removed from the area around
the aperture to provide a stable platform and assembly commenced shortly
afterwards. It was noted that the old decking which had obviously lain
beneath the original companionway was in fact oak and probably dated from
the vessel's original building, as you know the remainder of the decking
had been pine, so it seems that back in 1903 she started out with oak. A
couple of short lengths of this oak which remain basically intact have
been saved and will form the basis of a small exhibit in due course.
Meanwhile the companionway began to take shape and
in no time was assembled and as you will see from the photographs above
looks really superb. Considering John described this a quick temporary
replacement, largely made from 'bits of scrap' we can only guess what
John and Gordon will produce when we are engaged in the restoration phase
and using quality woods. I have no doubt their true craftsmanship will be
very much in evidence aboard!!
All that remains for us lesser mortals is to grab
the paint and brushes and finish off with a top coat to match the other
deck-houses etc.
As will be appreciated the majority of the work on
this project was carried out by John at home in his workshop, he
estimates about twenty hours in total, so I will ensure this added to our
running total which has now passed 7,500 hours as of Saturday.
I am sure everyone will agree John and Gordon have
done a great job and we are particularly fortunate in having their skills
on the team.
Well Done!!
- Neil Marsden
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