10 & 11/08/10 : Horning & Ranworth Open Days.

Our volunteers were kept busy this week with two open days in quick succession at Horning and Ranworth. We thank all those who turned out in large numbers to have a look over Albion. The weather tried hard to put folk off at the start of our day at Horning but eventually relented and we all had a splendid afternoon of sunshine which carried forward into our open day at Ranworth. Some of us have developed dog sitting skills whilst their owners explored Albion below decks, there is a rumour that this is going to be added to the list of required skills for future Mates !  Some folk made considerable efforts to visit us including a couple who travelled up to Horning from Kent for the day and a young family from Hamburg who admittedly may have not made the journey solely for our benefit but they were most welcome anyway !

The following photographs were taken from our open day at Horning.

01/08/10 : A Spiritual Journey - The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James was taken to St Benet's Abbey by Albion for the annual service at these ancient and beautiful ruins. The full EDP article can be found here.

28/0710 : National Parks Week: Wherry Good Time !

Albion was invited to attend a Broads Authority event at Potter Heigham as part of "National Parks Week". A busy day was had by our volunteers as many visitors took the opportunity to have a look around. It was also a first outing for Albion's new dress flags as can be seen below.

 03/06/10 : Newly qualified skipper Roger Watts is given an appropriate send-off on his maiden charter - congratulations Roger (and to the charter party who were delivered safely back to base !).

20/05/10 : Crew training day.  Much oil was needed to lubricate some rusty limbs as trainees and experienced hands were put through their paces under the watchful eys of skipper Chris Shallcross and mates Phil Hubbard & Peter Jermy.

13/05/10 : Brighton family visit. Shortly after the National Historic Ships presentation Albion was visited by Jean Crampton and family. Jean (on left in the photo below) is the great grand daughter of William Brighton in whose yard Albion was built in 1898.

13/05/10 : Received a visit today from representatives of the National Historic Ships who presented us with a certificate and cheque to mark our award as Runner-up as 2010 National Historic Ships “Flagship of the Year”. We were delighted to receive the award and see it as recognition of all the efforts that the Trust has made and continues to make to preserve Albion and to keep her on the rivers and broads for everyone to see and to sail on. We will be flying the National Historic Ship pennant during the season. Why not visit the National Historic Ship web site to see more about the award and their entry for Albion ?

Paula Palmer of National Historic Ships presenting their runner's up certificate to Roger Watts.

01/05/10 : First charter of season.

28/04/10 : The committee has agreed that Albion should be slipped in October this year at Lake Lothing for a hull inspection, a few new planks where necessary and a touch up to her hull finish. This work is scheduled to last up to four weeks.

24/04/10 : Training day for crews. Crew training continues this year with a day at base where man-overboard drill, safety and checking of lifejackets and fire prevention will be practiced. This is part of our on-going crew training procedure.

17/04/2010 : Annual crew meeting held today to brief on new season. Training programme for year outlined. 

14/04/2010 : 'On the 14th April, a crew of volunteers took Albion down to Eastwood Whelpton Yard at Upton to collect her mast. Eastwood Whelptons Yard  generously help us by storing our mast over the course of our regular winter works period, lifting the mast from Albion using a crane that is about the same age as her.  As the mast is about 50' long and has a ton of counter weight at the bottom of it this is no light matter.  Whilst there other volunteers oil the mast and titivate the paintwork.  Albion had her gaff re-fitted at base on her return and the huge black sail laced into place, her blocks reeved with her sheets and ropes.  During the winter, aside from the works on the tabernacle, (carried out by Maynard Watson and his assistant Kim Dowe) she has been comprehensively scrubbed, scraped and repainted by our volunteer workforce.  She looks a picture, a credit to the volunteers who have put so much hard work in through a long and cold winter and is ready to grace the Broads for what is looking like a heavily booked summer sailing season.'

 If you would like to be a volunteer with Norfolk Wherry Trust and help keep this grand old lady going please go to the volunteer page Click Here