Posted by Peter Willis [FWD by I.E-N] on May 05, 1997 at 18:51:18:
Nancy Blackett came onto the market about a year ago. A group of us in Tars felt
she should be bought and preserved as an important part of the Ransome heritage.
She had in fact been offered to the society twice before - first by Scarbourough
Council when she was lying derelict in their harbour in 1988. This was before
the society had been formed, but they didn't know that.Then she was bought and
restored by Mike Rines, who lives on the Orwell near Pin Mill. He needed to sell
her and offered her to Tars in 1991. This was only a year after it had been set
up, and the level of membership then was thought too low to be able to take her
on, and she was sold privately.
So this is the third time of asking, and folk-tale enthusiasts will need no
reminding of the significance of that.
We decided the only possible way of proceeding was to set up a charity to buy
and look after her. This would have two main andvantages. It would enable us to
reclaim (UK) Income Tax on covenanted donations, and impose some necessary
discipline on our dreams. In order to convince the powers that be - the Charity
Commissioners - that we were fit to be recognised, we would have to work out a
plan covering what we proposed to do and how we would do it.
The only drawback was that this would take time. Luckily the owner was keen for
us to have Nancy and was prepared to wait.
So we launched a small scale appeal in last summer's Ship's Log, mainly to give
us some working funds and test interest in Nancy. Response to this has been
good. We have over 4,000 pounds already. Meanwhile we got on with setting up the
trust. It should be registered in five or six weeks.
But circumstances, like the wind, can change. The owner has now found that he
needs to sell Nancy quickly, and has given us a deadline of the end of the month
to come up with the money. He has also reduced his asking price, from 30,000
pounds to 25,000.
So now we need to raise around 20,000 pounds in around four weeks.
Our plans for Nancy involve a mix of uses, designed to met our aims while also
generating some revenue towards her upkeep.
The aims are, as well as preserving Nancy for the benfit of the public, to
stimulate interest in Arthur Ransome, and to encourage young people to develop
the sort of qualities of self-sufficiency portrayed in the books.
She will be partly a floating exhibit - we will take her to boat shows,
festivals of the sea, etc and possibly lend her to maritime museums for short
periods. We also hope to take people out on her, on day trips, or longer
cruises. This might include charter or providing sailing experience for
youngsters. Details have yet to be worked out on much of this, but it appears
possible in principle. And yes, we might well go to Flushing.
We also have plans to produce books, a video etc to stimulate/satisfy interest
in Nancy
She is already fulfilling one of her roles as a stimulus of memories and
reminiscence. We have heard from two former owners, one of whom produced Arthur
Ransome's original carpet from her cabin sole, as well as the man who bought
Swallow from AR (sadly he doesn't know what happened to her). We helped to show
her once last summer at a wooden boat festival and met many Ransome fans,
including someone who had worked with Roger Altounyan at Fisons.
Apart from the memories she holds and engenders, Nancy is a beautiful boat, and
beautifully restored. The Orwell would seem empty without her.
If anyone reading this wishes to send money, please do. Cheques etc should be
made out to "The Nancy Blackett Appeal" and sent to me, Peter Willis, at Sylvan
Cottage, White House Walk, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9AN, UK. We can accept foreign
currency cheques but it costs us about 5 pounds to convert them, so it's best if
they are for large amounts (!). Sterling money orders are better for us, but
probably cost you something to send.