To all members - you can register and book refreshments now online - or download paper versions of the forms - click here for the AGM Event.   Roger Heise, Chairman

For members with time on their hands, there are more back issues of Funnel on-line, with gems from 1972 onwards. Enjoy!

After some years of promising, and after a mammoth effort by Simon Maltby (thank you Simon) we have finally been able to publish back issues of Funnel on the web site :-)

This (member-only) page is available here, the documents are stored as PDFs and are stored as searchable text, so you can find all those long-lost references.

Issues 20 to 99 (1974 to 1998) are available (with a few missing Issues).

Enjoy! 

Just a note to point out that "live" links and extracts of our Facebook page and the Steamboat Forum are now added to the home page - let the editors know how much you love these changes!

We have also been working on the adverts pages to make them neater and add some new opportunities to part with your cash.

We are still planning to bring the back issues of the Funnel to the web site too.

Jim Hatfield of the VIC96 Trust informs us that they will be steaming VIC 96 and be open to visitors for mince pies and punch from 10am until 4pm on 27th December, (which is the day after Boxing Day.)

Steam tug Barking won’t be in steam but will also be open. All are welcome. They are in No 1 Basin at Chatham just north of the Medway Tunnel and close to the Ship & Trades pub.

John Jewsbury is also coordinating a posse from the SE Region to attend.

We received the following press release, announcing this positive step in the preservation of Freshspring - which, as John Puddy sais, "all started with an article in Funnel by James Carstairs. Without that, Freshspring might not exist now."  Well Done SBA!

Freshspring Society achieves National Lottery support for historic steamship.

The project to restore SS Freshspring, a rare historic steamship, has taken another major step forward. A £61,000 National Lottery grant has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The news comes less than 18 months since the Trust was awarded £155,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) to transport the ship from Newnham on Severn and berth her in Bideford.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the award is for a two year programme including works required to open the ship to the public as a heritage attraction. 

There will be a considerable emphasis on education from school age children to the general public. The grant includes funding to employ an Education and Project Officer.

SS Freshspring is remarkably complete – her hull and superstructure are substantially intact, whilst her steam engines are in outstanding condition due to the care given to them over time. With her pre-Second World War configuration, her form reflects the type of general cargo vessel that was the work-horse of the British and the Worlds mercantile fleets from the 1920s to the 1950s. The only other vessel of similar appearance and scale in the UK is SS Robin of 1890. 

Furthermore, the proposals to bring Freshspring back to operational condition for a sustainable future use whilst retaining her external form and sympathetically converting her internal water tank spaces mean that she will be the only operational vessel of this type. 

In the meantime, the proposals to present her afloat in Bideford as a static heritage exhibit mean that she will be the only vessel of her type and age accessible to the general public.

John Puddy, The Trust Chair stated, “ This is a huge step forward for the Trust, The National Lottery grant was substantially matched in Devon by Torridge District Council, Bideford Bridge Trust and The Balsdon Trust, demonstrating very considerable local support. In addition match funds have been awarded by The Headley Trust along with individual Trust Membership support. I thank all those in our team who worked so hard to make this such a successful project with a very bright future.”

Work will be starting on the restoration of the ship’s bridge, boatdeck and access shortly to ensure the ship can fully open for April 2018.

For information see: www.ssfreshspring.co.uk.

Brian Smith informs us that the Tamesis Trust has received full planning permission for proposed museum at Beale Park on the Thames at Pangborne.

As the planners comment: "the proposal provides a unique opportunity to display maritime artefacts and boating memorabilia which is of historic value and an educational asset. Given that the site is currently used for tourism the proposed use complements this and will deliver both a social and economic benefit."

Congratulations to Brian and his team - you can read the press release here

John Jewsbury is organising a visit to preserved Clyde Puffer VIC56 ! See Events listings for full details.

On Sunday and Monday 17^th and 18^th of this month there will be a ‘Victorian’ theme to the weekend at Loch Katrine.

As steamboats were the vogue at that time, so we will be putting in a presence with as many boats as possible.

Some boats will be launching and steaming on Saturday 16^th (checking latest repairs are working!) but the main part of the Victorian Weekend will be Sunday and Monday.

We will be having dinner on Sunday evening at the Faerie Tree Inn in Aberfoyle at 7pm.  Please let Gudmund or Roger know if you are coming so we can let restaurant know numbers.

As usual visitors will be welcome of you don’t have a boat, again let Gudmund or Roger know which days you plan to join us to ensure there will be a berth for you.

All the best

Gudmund Jorgensen or Roger Martin (contact details in the members directory)

It is with considerable sadness that we announce that Dick Bradford passed way yesterday, the 2nd August. 

He was a much loved and respected member of the SBA and a very active member of the Thames steam-boating community. 

He will be greatly missed.

Dick's funeral will be held at Reading Crematorium, All Hallows Road, Reading, RG4 5LP. (This is situated just off the A4155, Henley Rd.) on Monday August 14th at 2.30.pm and afterwards at the New Inn, Chalk Green House Road, Kidmore End, RG4 9AU at 3.30pm.