Memories of Memory

Frances Dalesman, who volunteered on sb Memory in 1961, has contacted us asking for information about her.

Our splendid Hon Secretary, John White, has come up trumps again, and has provided the following which has been passed on to Frances direct.   We thought, though, that it was a story which others might like to read.

“The Sailing Barge Preservation Society bought Memory in 1958 to keep alive the sight of a working sailing barge, but, following a collision in the Thames, she was taken to a yard at Grays where it was found that there was considerably more rot in her timbers than had been thought.    There was little money in the Trust to repair her, so she was laid up at Lower Halstow, finally being sold when there were no further funds forthcoming.  In 1968 the owners became Fellowship Afloat and she was used as a base to teach youngsters to sail.   She was badly damaged by fire at Tollesbury in 1990.   In 1991 Memory was bought  by Peter Sands with a view to restoring her, but she was hulked at Tollesbury, O.S. Ref: TL.969.109. 4/11/1999 Register closed, not renewed.”