Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Preserved Paddle Ships => Topic started by: lenknight on March 31, 2012, 02:45:50 AM
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Hello All,
Albeit I knew of this, other than seeing it on TV others may be not aware of this situation. I know what I think about this, being no fault of ours at MQPS, but might be interesting to see what our members make of it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-17541380 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-17541380)
Len Knight. >:(
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How sad, I would have thought someone would have been interested enough in the preservation of our historic ship, other than just models.
The Medway Queen Presvation Society and members, have battled for over twenty five years to preserve a real ship, which is of historical importance, being the only vessel of any large size to survive “Dunkirk”, also the only survivor of her type, as an Estuary Paddle Stemmer, yet no one has a comment to make, sad!!
Len Knight MQPS. :(
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Hi Len,
Very sad, for both your comments apply.
The politians have to sort this for you, and it has far reaching implications for all future UK / EU applications. Seems the paper shuffling clerks need to be brought into line.
To suddenly withdraw an approved grant at this stage implies behind the scenes manipulation and dipping of funds by some hidden EU buerocrate for his mates.
Hope it gets sorted to you advantage very soon
good luck
kiwi
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I would have responded to your post Len, but I' away from home right now, and only have access to the forum via my mobile phone - Not the easiest thing to type long messages into!
Eddy
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I'm a little confused.... it says;
Medway Council applied to the European Regional Development Fund for a grant to complete the restoration and bring the ship home.... how much money was the grant?
....The final stages of the project are being undertaken at a workshop in Gillingham by 16 people, including nine young apprentices whose jobs are now under threat, as there is only enough money until the end of April.
Peter Skinner, Labour MEP for the South East, said EU funding to all UK partners within the Interreg 2 Seas programme had been suspended after the UK government failed to meet the standards demanded by auditors.....
....this I understand least of all, how the government has 'failed to meet standards' is not explained, I don't recall the UK receiving any bail-outs or defaulting on any loans?? on the other hand I do seem to remember reading in more than one daily paper about how much the UK has contributed to the EU..... whole situation stinks if you ask me >:(
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programme had been suspended after the UK government failed to meet the standards demanded by auditors.....
By standards i assume acountancy standard rather than polictical. these types of issues i normally avoind as it gets my goat and i sometimes go into a bit of a rant. :police:
that said, i do not see why the whole fund should be frozen instead of just the part that is in question.
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As the EU's accounts have never been properly audited how come their petty bureaucrats are so exercised about these funds all-of-a-sudden???
They probably get a bonus/extended jobsworth etc!!??
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Thanks Lads for your replies, I did not mean to get up tight about lack of response, my apologies if it came across that way.
But really gob smack at this kick in the teeth at this late stag re our project, don’t often lose it but this is the pits for sure, more so when no fault of our group at Medway Queen, we are lucky to have a treasurer the is the tops in finance, little gets by him that is not right for sure.
However, you ask how much is the grant, to be honest I am not sure how it works, being a lump sum to be used between selected projects Europe wise that are complementary to each other, The Medway Queen being a lead group (explained on our website at Heros 2c but not the money issue!)
I can but try to find out the monetary input!
Medway Council were the ones that applied for this grant, along with the Society, they were upfront when it was approved, PR purposes, but seem to take a back seat now it has gone “pear shape” leaving it up to the Society to sort it out it seems, unless I am reading it all wrong!
I will look at this also.
Regards, Len Knight MQPS.
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Only reason I wondered about how much the grant was for is to see how big a setback it was....
....I mean, was it something that could be replaced with a 'charitable appeal' (whip-round) to interested enthusiasts....or are we talking about a really large part of the total needed to complete the hull - would be a tragedy to get this far only for the new hull to rust away somewhere... :(
really hope this can be sorted out, I was (still am) looking forward to seeing the ship sail and maybe to travel aboard one day...
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The rebuild of hull is financed by the lottery fund we were awarded, basically just short of three million pounds; this is being used to pay for just that.
The EU funding awarded is for the setting up and training apprentices, and their needs to do the work, like workshops etc. The funding stop some time ago, and we have been financing from our reserves, this cannot carry on much longer, there seems to be little sense of urgency at present from the powers to be.
If not restore very soon it will mean closing down this part of project, resulting in laying off instructors and apprentice’s, which we will be reluctant to do this, but what else!
This will amount to many thousands of pounds to carry on; chance of raising such money, more so in time to stop the layoffs is remote to say the least.
That how serious this all is, more so when not of our own making, I am told we can carry on for a week or two, and then must close down the EU project.
Len Knight MQPS.
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Hi Len,
I'm in no place to make a reply to help you situation so i haven't made reply so far but don't be put off by non reply as you never know who is looking in ...
Regards,
Kim
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Dear all,
It seems that the EU funding suspension for the Medway Queen rebuild project, as at long last been lifted by the EU commission, not after causing many money worries re paying apprentices and their training staff.
In the time being work still carries on at Bristol, albeit rather slow of late, the bow section is basically complete, but the aft end seems to drag on, reluctance to rivet plate maybe because most will have to be done by old method by hand, as their “auto riveters” will possibly not reach most angles it seems!
Len Knight MQPS.
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thank goodness for that Len it must ease a lot of worries,the hull is looking good though is there a time for delivery yet? Geo
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The original date for the completion of the hull was now (March-April 2012) at present rate of progress be lucky to see the hull back before Christmas, combinations of problems/holdups have slowed the work. But then having worked in the construction industry all my life (other than call up 1939-45) being similar, nothing new in revised completion dates galore! The lack of progress on aft end is the most outstanding; most will have to be hand riveted as original, bit short on these skills today, all the more reason to get apprentice ships going more so in these older skill, there will still be calls for these skill for many years still, too much talk as ever not enough do!
So cannot give a date for the return of hull to the Medway at all, sorry.
Len Knight MQPS.
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Dear all,
It seems that the EU funding suspension for the Medway Queen rebuild project, as at long last been lifted ....
That's great news! There seems to be quite a bit of progress since I last looked at the webcam pictures :)
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Albeit the media etc., report this funding problem is resolved, far from the truth at present!
It seems that this problem re EU funding is far from resolved, some payment are still in dispute with the EU commission, and need further, to quote their remarks, adjustments before payment may be made!
The Medway Queen Preservation Society will receive ERDF payment for expenditures claimed in September only at present. (I can only presume this is September last)
However, the interruption of past payments is not yet officially lifted and some additional improvements from the DCLG are required in order to definitely lift the interruptions.
The next ERDF payment, due for June/July 2012 can still be affected with this situation.
The mind Boggles, at such people at times, matters little at the problems they cause, with the lack of urgency they seem to adopted, it matters litte to them as long as their saleries are avalible, then if not, a sense of urgency would prevail!
Len Knight MQPS.
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Len I will be volunteering my skills as a carpenter of fifty years to work on the Medway Queen when it returns to Kent ,
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Thanks for your offer Chipenter to make your skills available to the Medway Queen; sadly it will be some time before the hull is back. In the meantime your help would be appreciated at Gillingham Pier to man the Visitors Centre(weekends) urgently needed at present, if you so wished to help in the meantime, get to know all the lads as well, and look at carpenters shop if you wish to get involved sooner.
Please feel free to contact the Office at the Pier, or myself if you need advice.
Once again thanks for your kind offer, a lot of the original lads, like myself are getting past it, we need new younger blood to keep the project going in the end.
I enclose website for info, if you have not already seen it.
Len Knight.
http://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/ (http://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/)
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Good news at last ERDF interruption of payment to UK beneficiaries has now been officially lifted by the European Commission.
This now lifts most problems money wise re work a t Gillingham Pier carried out by apprentices and training staff and partnership Europe wise.
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This is good news indeed. Nice to see that the commission don't always take a decade to do something right
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Great news Len, so presumably there won't be any further holdups with the project now?
It will be great to see the old lady restored to her former glory!
Regards
Eddy
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Brilliant news Len :) I Might be in the Gillingham area later this year, if so I'll try to visit the pier. All the best in finding younger volunteers, we have the same problem in SSAFA and the model club.
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The pressures of the 'modern world' often prevent the younger generations getting involved with much outside of work! Full credit to those who find the time - wish I could!
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Hello all,
Good news, it seems that hand riveters may have been found to start work on aft end of the new hull for the Medway Queen being a complicated shape at last. The aft webcam at Bristol on the Medway Queen Website shows work starting, looks promising at least, only time will tell.
Len Knight.
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Good news indeed Len....
I thought that the hull would have been completed by now, but I know that you and the rest of the team aren't the sort of chaps to give up, so there was never any doubt in my mind that these issues would be overcome!
Kind regards
Eddy
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Hello Eddy,
In a perfect world, the hull would have been back at Gillingham Pier months ago, now progressing in its second fitting, sadly all a pipe dream in our present world.
Our 27 years as a project have been plague with problems, albeit powers to be seem to sympathize, and give the impression of wanting to help, do nothing but put obstacles in our path at times it seems.
However, we have not come this far to see it go pear shape without a fight, I think we will soon have a battle with the MCA over moving the hull from Bristol to Gillingham, re towing back, we will see.
Some say I worry too much, but no smoke without fire is my guide.
Regards, Len.