On July 10th, the restoration of the Edith May was officially completed with a grand launch party in Lower Halstow Dock. With the jazz band playing, all her old winners pennants were set flying and looked amazing as they fluttered in the breeze on an absolutely scorching day.
Thank you to all who attended and special thanks go out to those who have helped us over the past 10 years to restore the barge.
The Edith May will now embark on a programme of chartering throughout summer, details of which can be found under the ‘charter’ section of the website.
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Geoff, Jane, Ed and crew,
Such an exciting event for you, and for the village too.
We wish you all the best for your future travels and success with the business.
The Edith May looks amazing and has given me a boost to get the Idle Duck finished and into the water.
We look forward to seeing you out there.
Cheers
Bob & Judy Telford
Thank you both for your good wishes, we hope to see you on the water!
Wonderful news that you have saved this Thames Barge. I sailed in the Thames Match on Saturday (aboard SB Repertor) and it was a great experience. Would be excellent to see Edith May in the Thames Match next year.
I have a picture somewhere of Edith May in the Swale match in the early 80′s – she broke her bow sprit in a collision
Nigel
Congratulations on getting Edith May back together. I was first aboard her in 1965 and again in a Medway Match sometime before she fell on hard times. If she takes a bit of water, don’t worry, for she always did! Not that her owners have always let on. Once out of trade as a motor barge with Sully Bros of Fenchurch Street, when rigged out and based in Heybridge Basin in the ownership of Vernon Harvey, no expense was spared. But she still leaked. Pumping was done under the cover of darkness, winter or summer, when ‘Dilberry’ Clark, sometimes with Harland & Wolf rigger Bill Percy, both living at the Basin, would quietly slip aboard and rig the pump aft and clear the bilge, most nights. When I raced aboard her in the Medway Match when owned by the chap who rescued Victorian fireplaces from derelict London houses and sold them for fortunes (or so we thought), I reckoned we pumped the Medway through her twice on the beat down to Medway No.6, and once more on the way back up, but it was a bit of a blow. I presume you have been in touch with Barry Pearce and have his recollections and pictures of her from the time he was in her as a motor barge? Anyway, all the hard work has been worthwhile according to those I have spoken with who were at the launch party, so God speed and fair winds to all who sail in her.
Regards,
Richard