Skylark IX
We have recently been informed of the sad demise of one of the Little Ships. Skylark IX slipped under the surface of the River Leven in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland at the weekend. She has been taking Dunkirk Veterans to scatter poppies on Loch Lomond for thirty years and locally there is much support to see her raised and restored.
Skylark IX was built in 1934 by Bolson & Sons in Poole, and was one of the 11 Skylark vessels. Former owner John Sweeney, in a quotation from our local paper The Lennox Herald, said that she could carry 100 people at a time but from Dunkirk she carried about 150 people and made four trips.
Apparently the present owner would be quite happy to donate the boat if she can be raised and restored, perhaps by a charitable trust.
The Vale of Leven Remembrance Day Association were saddened by the demise of Skylark and the committee are planning a campaign to have this brave Little Ship raised and restored.
There is indeed much local support to save Skylark and Provost Denis Agnew of West Dunbartonshire (who is also the Veterans' Champion) attended a recent meeting of the VOL Remembrance Day Association and gave his support for this venture saying "Skylark is part of our heritage and we should do our best to have it raised and restored and retained locally".
We know this is a huge task and a great commitment, but we cannot sit back and see this Little Ship be lost forever.
Has there been any progress or success in the salvage of Skylark IX?
Kes, not that we are aware. We'll make some futher enquiries and get back to you.
Web Admin
Look forward to any update on Skylark. Added some recent photographs of Thelmar. Added nine but one doesn't show on Thelmar page but does appear in Galleries (twice - as I uploaded it twice not seeing it first time on relevant page). Is there a limit of photographs for each boat on it's dedicated page? How do you remove photographs, i.e duplicates?
Is there a location to upload update photographs and progress reports?
How do I update text of boat please?
Kes, I'll send you an eamil on this.
Ian
Website Admin