Sundowner

Sam Brannigan · Oct 26, 2001

Hello all,

Just came across this interesting site:

http://www.ekmt.fsnet.co.uk/ships.html

It's the first time I've seen Lightoller's pride and joy and it's great to see she is still alive and kicking!

Regards

Sam

Inger Sheil · Oct 27, 2001

Ta for posting that link, Sam. Have had an ambition to hunt up the Sundowner for some time, and it's conveniently located near Broadstairs (connected with another of the Titanic's officers rather tenuously). Might have to organise a trip to beautiful East Kent soonishly. Have come across other Dunkirk commemorative plaques on boats recently - the 'Regal Lady', which regularly ploughs out of Scarborough on hour long mini-cruises, has one. I've always rather regretted that the final boat Lowe owned, which was still moored in the river Conway at the time of his death, isn't around today in the care of a maritime trust.

Teri Lynn Milch · Oct 27, 2001

Sam,

At the bottom of the link you posted it reads:

"The East Kent Maritime Trust is a member of the World Ship Trust, an organization which encourages and supports the work of ship preservation around the world. To learn more about the fascinating range of vesels they are associated with visit them at..."

Wouldn't this Trust Company make an excellent source for Nomadic's preservation project?

Teri

Sam Brannigan · Oct 29, 2001

Hi Teri!

I noticed that link myself and sent them a load of info regarding the Nomadic. I hadn't heard of them before; let's hope they can give us some help, or at the very least advice. BTW, check your mail - I've sent something pretty cool!

Inger - Perhaps you could take a load of photo's of the "Sundowner", I for one would love to see more of her!

Regards

Sam

Teri Lynn Milch · Oct 30, 2001

Hi Sam!

Got your email, thanks.

Yes let's hope they can give us some help or advice. You will be sure to keep us apprised of the matter on the Nomadic thread, won't you?

Yours,

Teri

Pat Winship · Oct 30, 2001

Hi, all!

Take a look at this one. It's a better picture of the boat. http://www.burrill12.freeserve.co.uk/DunkirkPics.htm

She's at the bottom of the page. Looks like the East Kent Maritime Trust is doing a beautiful job of preserving her. I do hope that Nomadic finds a similar fate, but since she's a much larger craft, she's a lot more difficult and expensive to deal with.

Pat Winship

Sam Brannigan · Oct 30, 2001

Hi Teri,

I've just posted the WST's reply to my mail on the Nomadic thread.

Hi Pat - what a beautiful pic! They've obviously done a great job on her down in Kent. Looks like quite a cosmopolitan little marina as well!

Regards

Sam

Michael H. Standart · Oct 30, 2001

Great photo of the Sundowner Pat. It's quite a testement to Ligtoller's courage that he got 135 people away from Dunkirk on a craft that small...and under hostile fire yet!

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

Pat Winship · Oct 30, 2001

Hi, Mike.

Lights said it was ONLY 130! But you're right; I look at that picture, shake my head, and wonder where he put them!

Pat

Michael H. Standart · Oct 31, 2001

That ONLY 130 doesn't count any incidental crew does it? Either way, it must have been really cozy aboard that thing!

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

Sam Brannigan · Oct 31, 2001

Is there any truth in the anecdote about the squaddie who on hearing that the ships master was the Titanic's second officer declared he would jump overboard and take his chances?
Apparently his pals advised him that if he was able to get through the Titanic disaster he should be regarded as a lucky charm.....and of course Sundowner made it safely home from Dunkirk.

Regards

Sam

Pat Winship · Nov 1, 2001

Hi, Sam

I've heard that story, but have no idea if it's true. I would consider it to be classically apocryphal-- if it isn't true, it ought to be.

Pat Winship

Inger Sheil · Jun 30, 2005

A bit on Sundowner's recent adventures - she was with the fleet of small ships returning to Dunkirk to mark the 65 anniversary of the evacuation:

http://www.ybw.co.uk/auto/newsdesk/20050426093738cbnews.html

I gather she was also among the surviving little ships of Dunkirk that took part in yesterday's naval review commemorating Trafalgar (and wasn't that spectacular?).

Michael H. Standart · Jun 30, 2005

Good to see that a recent restoration was done with the Sundowner. Even better to see that she's getting around under her own power. I just wonder if the £40,000 spent on the job was adaquate.

Jason D. Tiller · Jun 30, 2005

"(and wasn't that spectacular?)"

Yes, it sure was! I saw it on the news and was thinking how wonderful it would have been to see it in person.

I'm pleased as well to see that the Sundowner had a restoration. Hopefully it was enough, as Mike said.

Sundowner

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