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Editorial: CUTTY SARK APPEAL
Please help The Cutty Sark Trust after the devastating fire
As readers will know, Shipping Times UK is based in the Clydeside
area. Therefore the shock of today's news is every bit as, if not
more devastating to us, as it is for the people of London and the rest
of the UK.
Your editor was born and brought up only a few miles from where CUTTY
SARK was built, indeed, for a short period I worked in the very pocket
of land where she was built. I have family connections with the old
Scott & Linton yard itself and shipbuilding in Dumbarton. Seeing some
of the pictures of the blaze were as heart-rending as if it were my
own house I was watching go up in smoke.
It is to be hoped that the ship can be restored. It is perhaps a
comfort that 50% of the ship was off site being restored or kept safe.
But there can be no doubt the restoration project has suffered a
hammer blow.
This ship epitomised much that was great in Scottish shipbuilding and
ownership, and came to represent all that was great and noble about
Britain's maritime traditions. She is also a huge part of Australia's
history, being the finest wool clipper of all time.
Unfortunately she put her Dumbarton shipbuilders, Scott & Linton, out
of business, but that was due to the very exacting demands of her
shipowner, Jock Willis, and Captain Moodie who oversaw her
construction. She was to be the best, and the best she became. Built
to endure, to last and to give a sense of power, pride and dominion
over the seas. She did all that and thanks to Captain Dowman in
Falmouth's actions in the 'twenties, she survived to become one of the
most treasured historical artefacts in Great Britain.
Her fame is world-wide, the glory of her greyhound days still enthuses
and inspires young and old.
The police think the fire was deliberate. It is almost inconceivable
that it was so. What motive, what earthly motive, could possibly exist
to wantonly destroy such a noble and beautiful piece of British
history? It is beyond belief, and I for one refuse to believe that
anyone could act in such a despicable, senseless and callous manner.
If it was indeed a case of arson it will possibly be the worst ever in
the UK's history (where death has occurred excepted). I hope it was
not so. It is bad enough to watch a piece of one's history subject to
such incredible destruction, but much worse to bear is the thought any
individuals could possibly delight in it.
The Cutty Sark Trust will need these islands' peoples, and our friends
abroad, to help them.
Their plans have been thrown back, their loss is our loss too.
Shipping Times pledges to help in any way possible, and I personally
entreat you to do the same.
CUTTY SARK, and her pride, must be restored.
There are many ways you can help. If you care about our shared
maritime heritage and this legendary old ship, please visit
Cutty Sark Trust's support page here. (If that link should fail,
the home page for the Cutty
Sark Trust is here
Donations can be sent to the Cutty Sark Trust at 2 Greenwich Church
Street, Greenwich SE10 9BG
Yes, I know there are worse things happening in the world, but there
are times when what, in a relative sense, should be the least of our worries can still be
the most heart-breaking.
News item: CUTTY SARK suffers
from suspicious fire
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