Daniel Adamson preservation Society. "Full Ahead" Fund raising campaign launched

MEDIA RELEASE No 1/2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Liverpool 24th March 2011

Historic Mersey Tug/tender set to Steam Again
£200,000 fundraising appeal launched

Saved dramatically within hours of going under the cutters torch in 2004 by a small group of enthusiasts, the steam tug ‘Daniel Adamson’ which plied the waters of the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal for almost 80 years from 1903 to 1984, is set to steam again.

Withdrawn from service in 1984, the vessel was in a serious state of neglect until a small group of volunteers stepped up to save her and had her moved to Liverpool Docks and formed the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (‘DAPS’)

Expanding to a group of over 450 members from all walks of life and after spending 70,000 hours in 7 years of backbreaking work to save her, the volunteers are now on the verge of returning this unique, Mersey built steam tug/tender back to working life.

Charitable trust in £2.6 million lottery bid

Dan Cross, ‘DAPS’ Chairman, said ‘We have had great support from charitable foundations, local authorities, Port owners and Utility companies to save the vessel and provide a secure berth but now we really do need that ‘shipyard job’ and we have to raise a serious amount of funding. We are launching this appeal, the ‘Full Steam Ahead’ campaign, to ask both the ordinary citizens and corporate bodies to help return this unique vessel back to a working life.’ As part of our match funding we are aiming to raise £200,000 from membership, members of the public, corporate donations and from Charitable grant giving trusts and organisations.

Financial support for the project has already been received from a number of charitable trusts to enable a significant amount of restoration work to go ahead but the next stage of the project requires the services of a Shipyard with the costs estimated at close to £3million. These costs centre around the boiler and hull repairs together with the need for modern systems such as a silenced, modern generator, toilet waste and bilge holding tanks along with Fresh Water tanks to meet current safety standards. DAPS will shortly be submitting a major funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).


Steam back on the Mersey and Ship Canal

When completed the vessel will meet specifications laid down by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the work has been planned to not alter the overall character of the vessel and indeed has been planned in close consultation with National Historic Ships in London. Once operational the vessel will be licensed to carry 100 passengers in the restored art deco style saloon that this proud vessel once boasted.

Working closely with local museums to develop a full range of educational programmes, when restored it is planned to sail the tug on her home waters of the Mersey, Manchester Ship Canal and the River Weaver carrying passengers of all ages, including those making journeys of nostalgia, school children and community groups.


TV’s ‘Antiques Roadshow’ star Paul Atterbury support

The unique nature of the vessel and its status as major national restoration project is now supported by art-deco expert Paul Atterbury of ‘Antiques Roadshow’ renown who has visited the vessel several times between filming and has committed his support to the fund raising campaign, recently taking on the role of Patron of the Society. Paul was particularly impressed with the lavish art-deco saloon created in 1936 by craftsmen from John Brown Shipyard on the Clyde, builders of the first famous Cunard ‘Queens’, when the vessel was used as the Manchester Ship Canal Company’s Directors inspection vessel. The saloons will be refurbished to the stylish and opulent standard.

Funding the ‘Living Memory’

Dan Cross said ‘When in steam in the hey-day of shipping on the Mersey and the canals, the ‘Daniel Adamson’ was an impressive sight and we want to recreate that scene for everyone to enjoy, not just for those who may remember her.

‘As well as appealing for donations, we are planning a number of events to raise funds including dinners, trips out with the Mersey Ferries and Llangollen Railway. All donations will be treated as donations towards the “Full Ahead” campaign and as such, will form part of the match funds. All money donated will be placed into our bank account and only used to match fund a potential grant from HLF. In effect the donations will be securely “ring fenced”. Donations should be sent to George Robinson, Treasurer, Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, Southwood Cottage , 79 Southwood Road, Cottingham, HU16 5AJ with cheques made payable to ‘Daniel Adamson Preservation Society’

• For Membership and general enquiries please contact John Broomby, Membership Secretary on: 0161-969-2903 or e-mail membership@danieladamson.co.uk
Membership enquiries can also be sent to him at: 28 Brookfield Drive, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 6QR
• If you wish to contact the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, the website is www.danieladamson.co.uk or you can e-mail Dan on chairman@danieladamson.co.uk
• DAPS recently passed the initial stage towards getting a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and is now developing its grant application for the final second stage with the assistance of HLF's mentoring scheme. If successful, the HLF grant will cover much of the tug tender's restoration, including vital boiler refurbishment, plus educational outreach programmes. The HLF previously awarded two project planning grants in 2006 and 2008.

 

Best wishes for a successful campaign.

 

Thanks for your kind message. There is never an "easy" time to launch a fund-raising campaign but the "Danny's" time is now.
Some ships have already received extensive HLF support, some didn't make it past the first or second fence. Please, after seven years of hard graft, let us not let the Danny fall at the last!

 

Was very fortunate to see the Daniel Adamson at the last open day last September and was most impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the working members. The quality of the items restored so far is brilliant and both they and the very fine boat deserve all the support we can give them. I joined and made a donation within a week of my visit and will be making further donations as funds permit.

This from a dyed in the wool railway enthusiast who had never previously shown much interest in boat preservation.

 

Thanks for your kind words.
It is funny you commenting about being a lifelong railway enthusiast. We have attracted a few members from the likes of the ELR and other railway sites, I think people are slowly latching onto the projects potential and importance. Not forgetting of course she was built as a "Railway Steamer" for the SUR&Cco which in turn was a self governing part of the LNWR.
Please spread the word.......

 

I hope you all like it and are moved to donate!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-Adamson-Preservation-Society/142362645811566

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd8R3uHleos

 

Approximately six weeks since the launch of our ambitious “Full Steam Campaign” to our members and recently to the general public, we are delighted to announce that the response has been super and today we passed the mile stone of reaching £15,000 raised so far, primarily form members of the society. Thank you.

National media such as magazines and local papers are now carrying the story of the campaign launch and we hope to build on this early and fantastic start.

Also many, many application packages have now been dispatched to potential corporate sponsors and grant giving organisations and trusts seeking grants towards our campaign to raise up to £200,000 as match funding towards our application for approximately £2.8million which should be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in June for a decision by the National Trustees of the fund in London by September this year.

Although we hope to be successful with our HLF application, if we are indeed successful, we would not be able to draw on an awarded grant until all match funds are in place, making the “Full Steam Ahead” campaign especially important in the bid to restore the 1903 built Steam Tug-Tender “Daniel Adamson” back to full, passenger carrying, steam powered condition.

For those wishing to donate, their contribution will be ring fenced and used for the purpose of match funding. You can go to www.danieladamson.co.uk and donate on line using the “donate” button using credit/ debit cards or alternatively Donations should be sent to George Robinson, Treasurer, Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, Southwood Cottage , 79 Southwood Road, Cottingham, HU16 5AJ with cheques made payable to ‘Daniel Adamson Preservation Society’