Campaign to save pirate ship

A Charity which maintains the legendary former Radio Caroline pirate radio ship Ross Revenge has launched an ambitious Crowdfunder campaign to fund a move to dry dock the vessel for essential repairs to ensure it’s survival.

The registered charity MV Ross Revenge (Home of Radio Caroline) aims to raise £125k, to add to the £57k already raised, this will total approximately half the amount required to approach the National Lottery for additional funding to carry out initial surveys of the ship in dry dock - paint the hull and superstructure, and to carry out necessary repairs.

“Ross Revenge is a remarkable ship with a fascinating fishing and broadcasting history,” said Radio Caroline station manager and charity chairman Peter Moore. “One of only a couple of surviving British super trawlers, that once plied their trade in the North Atlantic, but were wiped out when the fishing industry went into steep decline in the late 1970s.

“It is the only remaining pirate radio ship still afloat, having avoided the cutter’s torch when sent to the breaker’s yard to become the floating broadcast base for Radio Caroline in 1983.”

The ship has endured many dramas during it’s time on the North Sea, including an armed raid by Dutch Authorities in 1989 and the 300ft radio mast falling overboard after the 1987 hurricane - nearly taking the ship down with it. Ross Revenge is also one of only a few ships to survive grounding on the notorious Goodwin Sands, when it’s anchor chain broke during a storm in 1991. It is now moored on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex and still used for regular offshore broadcasts. It is maintained by volunteers and is on the National Historic Ships Register.

“The Ross Revenge has played a significant role in the history of broadcasting in the UK,” said Peter Moore. “We have launched this Crowdfunder Campaign to ensure that the ship can continue to operate and provide a platform for independent radio broadcasting and be of interest to future generations, on which our future will depend.

“Our future plans to turn the forepeak area of the ship into an interactive fishing heritage centre will provide a hub for learning about maritime engineering and the ship’s deep sea fishing history.”

The Crowdfunder campaign started at 10am on Good Friday and runs for six weeks. To support the campaign visit the Crowdfunder campaign page for MV Ross Revenge (Home of Radio Caroline) at rossrevenge.com

Great Year Ahead for the Middy

2023 promises a great season for the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway with progress on their two major projects, track laying on the extension to Aspall Halt and the restoration of Hudswell Clarke no.1604, their own locomotive. The railway will also be running a full season of events in the summer steaming calendar.

All of which means the Middy needs more volunteers for this year’s activities. Whenever steam trains are running, all the railway’s usual facilities need to be open too. As one of the major tourist venues in Suffolk, Brockford Station obviously must have ticket office, platform and train staff. In addition, the railway needs staff to run Infrastructure and admin as well as the general engineering and maintenance of vehicles and the site.

The main ingredients for volunteers is enthusiasm and availability - training can be given for any of the roles requiring extra skills. During 2023 the Middy will be open every Sunday and Bank Holiday from 30th April to 3rd September with special events on 7th & 8th May and 28th & 29th May and, of course, Santa Specials 2nd to 17th December

Anyone interested please visit the MSLR web site www.mslr.org.uk/join us and complete the Volunteer Enquiry Form or contact the MSLR Volunteer Co-ordinator, David Clayton on volunteering@mslr.org.uk

Free Harness Fitting