Help needed urgently to keep an old WW2 ship afloat

 

HELP GET LADY DORIS SHIP SHAPE AGAIN!

 

 

The main objective for me is to ensure that this beautiful boat stays afloat and can be enjoyed by more people for many years to come.

When she sank last summer (2014), I was absolutely heartbroken, but also felt a deep sense of shame that an important piece of British History was at risk of being lost forever, because of me.

 

 

Fortunately, I managed to raise her, and fix the main problem that caused her to sink (faulty stern gland for any boat enthusiasts out there!).

 

 

I washed her down and gave her a lick of paint to survive the winter, but she's still in a fairly sorry state, and needs a lot of work done to ensure she stays afloat. This will ensure she can get back to her former glory!

 

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WHY I NEED YOU!

 

This story has been picked up by a prime time TV show. They have already been and filmed several times to track the progress and see the space. 

We wanted to finish this by 23rd June, but we've extended the deadline a bit to 9th July, as she's a lovely Lady, and needs a little bit more time to get ready for the ball! I’m excited to set sail for Henley, but this has put a huge stretch on my finances and my time, and I just can’t do this on my own!"

 

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VOLUNTEERING

 

 

This is my amazing Mum who's come from Wales a couple of times now to help with the overall interior design decisions. She's amazing! 

I’ve had a fantastic bunch of volunteers help over the past year (see below), and I’m really excited to be welcoming you into our heroic family. You’ll be very well looked after with plenty of sausage baguettes and the odd drink or two in Kingston to finish the day on a high.

 

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KEY VOLUNTEER DATES

 

We've got volunteers on the boat almost everyday, so if you want to come down for any day during the week. Let me know!

We will also be running our special Lady Doris Deckhand Showcase Volunteering Days on the following dates:

• Saturday 27th June -  Bit & bobs day - This is a neatening things up type day... cleaning the brass, making her shine!

• Saturday 4th July - The Icing on the Cake Showcase. Four days out and we'll be putting the finishing touches on Lady Doris. Not to be missed!

 

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WHY VOLUNTEER FOR LADY DORIS?

 

1 - Predominantly this project is about keeping a piece of British History afloat, and you can be a part of this cause! 

Lady Doris is on the National Historic Ships register, and one of only 1,000 in the UK that's entitled to fly this ensign flag at the stern. Check out the link!

http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2819/lady-doris

We want to share Lady Doris & her history with the local community, schools & charities. We have chosen to support the RAF Benevolent fund in loving memory of my Grandpa & the countless other heroes to whom we owe our freedom.

 

2 - It should be quite fun! I'm providing food, drinks and even board if you want to (on Lady Doris, and Baby Doris, her cheeky sidekick). 

I can excite/bore you with the tails of adventure that got lady Doris from a Canal in Sheffield to Kingston Upon Thames!

 

3 - Rolling up your sleeves can be quite satisfying. 

I've been rather chuffed by how positive and supportive my friends and family have been so far, and how much they enjoyed getting stuck in, and seeing the "before & after" effects of their days work!

 

4 - The rewards listed on this site for the cash that is given to the project, also apply to the volunteers, to differing degrees. 

Cast iron fact is that all volunteers get an automatic invite to a Summer Party on Lady Doris in Summer 2015! The more you are able to offer in terms of expertise and/ or time, can be rewarded with more love and presents too!

(A big thanks to Bugs, Hass, Jo & Gemma!!! What legends!!)

 

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WE NEED SOME CASH TOO!

 

 

I’m authentically restoring her using as many traditional methods of craftsmanship as I possibly can. I want Lady Doris in the best shape of her life, and I need your help and funds to get her there. I need basic tools, and a few specialist items to ensure the boat can function off grid in an efficient and environmentally friendly manor. We also need bits to finish the overall look and feel of Lady Doris, so we can honestly say we're restoring her to her former glory!

The Target

• £1,500 - will get me the supplies and tools it takes to get her ready for June 23rd - like Sandpaper, Varnish, Wood & Paint for example.

We also have stretch targets and need a few little extras to get her back to her best:

• £500 – Optimised solar energy system, authentic lighting and finishing’s. 

• £1,500 – Upholstery, fabrics and specialist labour.

(watch the video, if the kids requesting these items doesn’t melt your heart, then I don't know what will!!).

We need funds to finish off this project. The banks have said "no" with regards to the loan I need, so I desperately need your help. 

 

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IN CONCLUSION

 

Lady Doris & I need your help, whether it's through volunteering or through to cash donations to help us reach the July 9th deadline.

Please fund, share or join our team and be part of this amazing project.

Lady Doris & Marcus

XXXXXX

Lastly I want to take this chance to say a huge thank you to some of the fantastic people who have helped me so far! I love you all, and I simply could not have got this far without your amazing help!

 

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MY "LADY DORIS DECKHANDS"

 

Richard from Primrose Engineering, who is the ultimate guru for any vintage engine or gearbox & a thoroughly nice guy too! I met him through canalworld.net - and I can't thank him and all of them enough for all their advice & support, especially when Lady Doris (formerly Fairstar) sank. My posting on Canal World went global, and became their most visited post ever apparently! I can't possibly name them all, but they know who they are! The post can be found here! 

http://www.canalworld.net/dobrotalks/index.php?showtopic=68663&hl=fairstar

(55,000 views and over 800 replies!!)

My fab sister "Mrs Buggins" has been with every step of the way, including on the adventure down the Thames from Reading to Kingston!  When we ran aground (one of the many mishaps along the way), she just jumped in the Thames and pushed us free (well, when I joined her we managed it anyway!!). Love you bugs!! XXX

Lord Toad! Well what can I say! With me from the start, literally from when I made the call to him, explaining I'd just bought an old wooden boat on Ebay... His enthusiasm & humour kept me going in those early days, when the reality of the situation was starting to dawn on me! We fixed the Hull together, and have become good friends since. What's more, his dance moves are epic. Thanks to Skippy his dog too, he was an invaluable help throughout!

 

My fantastic Uncle T & Hazel. What amazing people! Uncle Terry has given me so much of his time & his support, it's truly legendary. And Hazel has kindly let me borrow her husband for days on end. These two are the best ever! It was a pleasure to be able to make them tea on Lady Doris on there recent visit, when this photo was taken!

 

My mates Jason & Laura got stuck into some much needed cleaning recently. They got quite competitive with other, which was fun. I had to be diplomatic at the time, but I can now reveal... (drum roll)... Sorry J, Laura was the best! Love you XXX

 

Rachel & her pals came for a day of cleaning, and nailed the stern cabin (aka bunkhouse) in an afternoon. Rachel has been a huge help from the start too, taking measurement, and doing diagrams, and advising on how to treat the wood (she's a trained French polisher!) 

 

My handyman Dad has been a few times, both during the hull work, and also recently to help fix the wheel house, and the outside steps. Such a huge help to have someone you can trust to do any part of the project, who just gets on with it. Thank you Dad the rad! XXX

 

Jim, you're a flipping hero you are! We had such a constructive day clearing the decks, and then you came back to be my "Debbie McGee" in the kriticalmass pitch video. What a legend! XXX

 

My housemate John has got stuck in a couple of times now. He's epic! He's also great fun in the drinnking/evening parts too, and we're discovering various watering holes in Kingston together! He also likes Monkeys...

 

 

Hass, what a legend - he's helped me totally selflessly on countless occasions. When she was hard standing in Winter 2013, he came around with me wading through a flooded boat yard, to check the entire hull for rot. He joined in on our maiden voyage down the Thames, and recently got stuck into some sanding too. Love you dude! XX

 

Helped me in so many ways! for one thing, Martin managed to get my generator working again which was under water for a month! What a wizard! Thanks Martin for all your help & support over the last year or so!

 

Alex, I'm so sorry you dropped your phone in the river... and then fell in yourself later on in the day... truly epic stuff. Hope that hasn't put you off forever, and see you again soon! XXX

 

Dan Stern, Valery, Tim, Sarah & Jim Morris and their lovely sproglets! It was fantastic to see you all recently, and thank you for all your help & support! A special thank you to the kids who helped make this pitch video!!

 

Goose, I couldn't have done it without you shitting on my roof. Sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart my feathered friend!

 

Ed Napier = Legend. Ceri + Legend for letting me borrow him a few times! Ed was there when we officially launched Lady Doris on the Thames, after 3 months on hard standing! There's a video somewhere.. I'll try to dig that out!

 

Ham, a legend from the start - thank you for everything!! And thank you for being good pal. Thank you for the call to inform she'd sank!!! What a shocker... but you've been so supportive and helpful, and I'm very grateful for that! X

Freddie! Thanks for helping me get stuck into the Hull work when she was in Reading, and for keeping me company in the horse box too, with a bottle of brandy and a guitar! Great fun, and hope to see you again soon! X

 

Cedric! You came up when Lady Doris rose from the Thames, and you kept me company when I was clearing out large quantities of mud, gunk & indeed you from the Bilges. I never though you could love a crab - but I love you cedric! XXX

 

Thank you to everyone in Kingston A&E for stitching me back together, when I sliced my finger whilst diving in and out of the Thames trying to refloat Lady Doris!

 

Butlin! Thanks for joining us on our trip down the Thames - what an adventure!! 

 

 

Thanks again to my amazing Mum & Morty for all their love and support throughout this crazy project. I could not have got this far without you and your positive energy and contributions. Love you both! XXX

 

Special thank you to Laura Jeffries who helped with the Hull work, when I had a tough deadline  to meet to get her back in the water.. And for helping me hit Reading too - what a night!! Sorry you ended up sleeping in your car though... Thanks again to Uncle T!! XXX

 

Thank you Abbie for joining us on the last leg of our trip to Kingston, and to bugs too my little blister. Love you!

 

Big thank you to toad & boaty pals, for your help & support!

 

Thanks Chaz for all your support and advice. Poor Chaz had a sinking experience with his boat on the Thames, and was very understanding of my plight in the early days, when I found out she had sunk! I met Chaz on "London Boaters" on Facebook. I'd like to thank everyone on that amazing group for all their help & advice over the last couple of years. I could not have got to where I am now with you, and that's a fact!!

 

Thank you to Lynne & Robyn, the previous owners of Fairstar, for all you help & support for the last couple of years. I'm sorry I sank your old boat, and I hope to do you proud, by restoring her to her former glory - I do hope you come and visit one day soon! XXX

 

Thank you Lovely Puma for getting stuck into the Hull work with me, and for keeping me company in my horsebox, drinking whiskey!! You're a star! Lady Doris misses you. X

This is super special thank you to my facial hair. you never to cease to amaze me how fast you grow, and how pirately you make my face look. You are the reason, why many ladlubbers now call me Blackboard, and I thank you form the bottom of my heart for that! XXX

 

Thank you Justin for your help and support during the dark days... Looking back at this picture, I wonder if our optimism had NO BOUNDS! You helped me through a tough time with your equal enthusiasm for the project, thank you!

 

I wish I could remember the name of this lovely couple! They saved out bacon on the trip down the Thames, when we ran out of Diesel, about half a mile short of the diesel pump. They dropped everything on their previously rosy family day out, to help get us to the diesel point. What truly lovely people! They are the tip of the iceberg too, and I'd like to thank all the people on the 3 MONTH journey down the Thames who helped us in some way. The lock keepers, especially Phil @ Boveney lock, all the other boaters, the passers by - EVERYONE. My lack of skill & experience was a constant embarassment to me, but always met with such warm encouragement & enthusiasm by everyone else - "you've got to start somewhere" - should be the motto of this trip!! XXX

 

Thank you JK for joining in on the initial adventure, and for all you love and support throughout this project!! You're a true gem! XXX

 

Thanks Richard for helping me make the pitch video, it was a lot of fun, and that =two hat look, has to be a keeper right?

 

Words cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for Ethel the swan. So I won't even try...

 

Nolan, Harriet & Abbie - on the night we made it to Kingston - what an adventure!! Later on that night, Nolan & got back to find out inflatable boat had been popped, so I had to swim out to Lady Doris at about 2am... a highlight of this adventure as you can imagine...

 

After my attempts of diving in and out the Thames for about two weeks, fortunately the experts came and helped me! thanks to all the guys at Essex Marine who did a stirling job in helping me to get Lady Doris back above the waterline!!

 

Thanks to Dan, and his awesome kids - who starred in our pitch video. How cute can you get?! Lady Doris is a great place for kids, as you can combine adventure with a history lesson - check out the rewards section mentioning the family day out!! XXX

 

This was her first trip after we got her back in the water in about March 2014!! Thank you to John, Jack & Mark for all your humorous banter over the 3 months Lady Doris (then called Fairstar) was at Better Boating in Reading! It certainly made the cold late winter days & nights rather entertaining, that's for sure!! I hope you will come and visit soon, or when she's finished - I still owe you some beers for losing the bet! X