Features include: A brief history of the London County Council paddle ferry fleet of 1905. The maiden voyage of the sailing ship DERWENT to Australia in 1884/5 as described by Chelmsford (Essex, UK) resident, Midshipman Francis Bigg Copland, in his diary. The voyage of HMS PERSEUS to the East Indies Station (Middle East) in 1901-3 as described by A Barker in his diary.
INTERESTED IN SHIPS, BOATS and the SEA Why not come along and join us at our friendly meetings held on the first Monday of the month in Ingatestone. WSS Membership not necessary A varied programme to interest all. Naval, Merchant, near and far. See our REPORTS page for notes on previous meetings content. Contact us through our CONTACT page or just turn up for a friendly welcome. |
BRANCH MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. WE WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND RE-COMMENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The I&FCC bar has reopened and the Snooker Room is due to open but any decission on meetings in the Committee Room would be taken during the summer WATCH THIS SPACE! |
We have published an occasional newsletter which can be viewed here: —————————  | | L B SIR WILLIAM ARNOLD, the decommissioned Arun Class Lifeboat, arrived at Heybridge Basin just as the Covid lockdown was beginning. Unable to move to London as planned she has been in the Basin since. She is reported as being open to the public this weekend (29th August) and will not now resume her journey to St Katherine's dock until March 2021. |
————————————————————————————————————————  | A PHOTO courtesy Andrew Smith Here is a picture of GRAND PRINCESS quarantined at Oakland and taken by a family friend from one of his firm’s tugs, on or about 14-03-2020. I am not sure whether the haze around the ship is a low cloud, morning mist burning off, or decontamination spraying! | ————————————————————————————————————————————————— |
————————————————————————————————————————————————— THE ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION 2020 RESULTS The overall winner this year was Ray Smith  Secretary, David Brown (left) presents the "Colin Viney Trophy" to this year's winner Ray Smith, Photo courtesy of John V Nicholls The highest scoring images (both scoring 66 points) at the 2020 Photographic competition held in February 2020 were taken by Ray Smith  | ARCADIA © Ray Smith 2020 
CAP SAN LORENZO © Ray Smith 2020 | | Click HERE to view all pictures entered in the competition |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A TALE OF TWO TID's 
Long time resident of Maldon's riverside, the TID tug BRENT (ex TID 159), is joined by TID 172 which arrived last year for maintenence in the dry dock. Work completed she will soon move to the River Medway. (TID 172 left Maldon prior to 25/05/2020 under tow of the tug AGAMA for Hoo on the Medway) 
BRENT 05/07/2020 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Mid-Essex Slide Shows Available NOW from Roy Cressey at WSS Photo Library (contact details are published in January Marine News) . "Tropic Voyage 1976" A PowerPoint presentation that traces the voyage of M.V. TROPIC in 1976 to the American Gulf Ports, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies, with photographs by Captain Edwin Gregson. This show also includes photos of the QUEEN of BERMUDA and OCEAN MONARCH. . | "In Our Own Back Yard" Charts the history of our local ports of Maldon, Heybridge and Chelmsford, just a few miles from our HQ. It also includes many points of interest and ships that have used and been laid up in the River Blackwater over the years. . | "Yes We Have No Bananas" A shortened version of Martin Wright's double show of his cruise around Central America on QUEST for ADVENTURE in November 2012. Sadly this was Martin's last show before his untimely death in February 2013. His wife Anne has kindly allowed us to convert this to a single PowerPoint presentation. . |
Ian Wells photos from his time in the London Docks have been assembled into a series of Powerpoint presentations which are available now from the Mid-Essex Branch . LONDON DOCKS 1972 Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 (Ian Wells SHOWS 19 and 20 and 21) are now completed as PowerPoint presentations. Many of the photos have never been shown before. Ian has also researched each vessel and supply's the commentary. The first had its début at Mid-Essex branch in November 2016, the second in March 2017. Part 3 was shown in October 2017 at Ingatestone. Ian would initially like to accompany these shows to local branches before putting them on "general release". Contact Ian Wells or the branch to reserve these shows. . "LONDON SHIPPING in 1962" Ian Well's fourth show (SHOW 22) in his London docks series features ships in the London Docks, the Thames, the Blackwater, Scarborough and Calais in 1962. This show is now available. . "LONDON SHIPPING in 1963 - 1964" Ian Well's fifth show (SHOW 23) in his London docks series features ships in the London Docks, the Thames, Great Yarmouth & in Lowestoft in1963-4. This presentation commenced it's maiden showing at Ingatestone on March 3rd 2019 and will conclude in June 2019 . SHOW 26 A selection of Ian Well's Black and White photos of ships in the Thames and elsewhere taken in the late 1950s early 60s. These have been scanned from negatives and assembled into a PowerPoint show. Maiden showing 2nd March 2020 at Ingatestone concluding in 2021 COMING SOON SHOW 24 Another selection of Ian Well's slides of ships in the Thames and elsewhere These have been scanned from slides and assembled into a PowerPoint show. Maiden showing expected sometime in 2021 at Ingatestone |
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS | | POSTPONED | POSTPONED |
| Site last updated: Southwold, front page, | 29/11/2020 |
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