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Press Officer:- Neil Marsden
E-mail:-
neil.marsden3@ntlworld.com
Telephone:- 07986116168
For immediate release January 29th 2008
Media
Release
Mutual
Support between Merseyside Maritime Charities
The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, which is working to
restore the “Daniel Adamson”
Britain’s sole surviving steam tug – tender, is pleased
to announce that it has been selected by fellow Merseyside based Maritime
Heritage Charity, the Merseyside Lightship Preservation Society, as 'the
project most worthy of their support '
The MLPS was originally formed by a group of Merseyside based
enthusiasts, determined if at all possible to save the River Mersey's last
'manned' light vessel, the former 'Bar Lightship' 'Planet'.
The society was granted charitable status, but before they could acquire the
vessel it was purchased privately. Undaunted the society carried out
extensive research into the history of the
Mersey Light-vessels, producing an educational
DVD copies of which were
distributed freely to libraries across Merseyside. The society received
funding support from the Heritage Lottery to carry out this work.
Throughout the existence of the MLPS they have continued in
their efforts to keep ‘Planet’ Mersey
based and to date have succeeded in this aim, the vessel now being a
prominent feature on the Mersey waterfront in Liverpool's Canning Dock.
Accordingly with the vessel in private hands and its future,
at least for the present reasonably secure, the society's council determined
that their original aims could no longer be realised, that the society
should be dissolved and that such funds remaining should be transferred to a
worthy 'like minded' project.
Following careful consideration the MLPS Committee held an
Extraordinary General Meeting of society members in November 2007 when it
was agreed that the society's funds should be donated to the Daniel Adamson
Preservation Society. In the words of MLPS Chairman, Stan McNally,
'It was the natural choice, a maritime
project, based on Merseyside with the best prospect of success.'
The donation which amounts to just under £10,000 will be
added to existing funds allocated for the restoration of
'Daniel Adamson's'
Liverpool built main engines. This work, the cost of
which is estimated at some £50,000 is already well underway and allows this
vital element of the restoration to continue independent of the
application for major restoration funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund,
which it is hoped, will be submitted later this year.
In acknowledging their contribution DAPS
Chairman Tony Hirst OBE said that the MLPS members had demonstrated the
camaraderie within preservation societies seeking to ensure that vessels
built on, or associated with Merseyside are preserved for the public
benefit.
 sm_small.jpg)
Daniel Adamson in service on the Manchester Ship Canal in 1981 by John
Slavin
LV Planet at Canning Dock, Liverpool - 2007 by John
Luxton
Ends.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
v The
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and
learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic
buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating
traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage
for everyone to enjoy. Since its conception, HLF have supported 16,600
projects allocating over £3.3 billion across the
UK.
v
The Daniel Adamson is a unique twin-screw steam
tug-tender (means built for both towing barges and carrying passengers)
constructed in 1903 for the
Shropshire Union Canal and
Railway Company by the Tranmere Bay Development Company in
Birkenhead.
v Originally
named “Ralph Brocklebank” the vessel was purchased by the Manchester Ship
Canal Company in 1921 where she served as the company’s hospitality tender
carrying directors, guests, dignitaries and potential users of their canal
on inspection tours of the canal until late 1984 when she was retired from
service. Since then until March 2004 she was a static exhibit at the Boat
Museum in Ellesmere Port.
v The
Daniel Adamson Preservation Society was formed in 2004 as a registered
charity, with the objective of restoring her to her former glory and active
passenger carrying on the Merseyside and
Cheshire
and Manchester waterways.
v
Since then members
have expended over 28000 hours work on her towards full restoration.
v
During 2005 the
Daniel Adamson was because of her importance placed on the “Designated List”
of craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels.
v
When restored the
“Daniel Adamson” will be the oldest operational Merseyside built ship in the
world.
v The
Society acknowledges the support of Geoff Heaps & Partners, James Walker
Sealing Technology, John Tiere and Company, JPS Scaffolding, Liverpool
Pilots. National Museums, Liverpool, Makita UK, Mersey Docks and Harbour
Company, Merseyside Fire Brigade Museum, North Western Ship Repairers, Peel
Holdings, Sigma Coatings, Smit Towage, Svitzer Marine, United Utilities and Wymark
Ltd.
v
For further
information please go to the society’s web site
www.danieladamson.co.uk. High-resolution photographs of the Daniel
Adamson suitable for reproduction can be downloaded from
www.danieladamson.co.uk/press/press.htm.
Daniel Adamson Preservation Society
Contacts:
Chairman: Tony
Hirst, 39, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1AB. Tel: 01244 373880
Email:
tony@thenterprises.fsnet.co.uk
Vice Chairman:
Dan Cross - 17 Cedardale Park, Barrows
Green, Widnes. Tel: 0151 4231393 Mobile: 07979865391.
Email:
dan@uptonrocks.fsnet.co.uk
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