Western Lady Fairmile sighting
Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Coastal Forces
Forum Description: Discussion about Coastal Forces
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=773
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 7:55pm
Topic: Western Lady Fairmile sighting
Posted By: stevep
Subject: Western Lady Fairmile sighting
Date Posted: 01 August 2011 at 6:17pm
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Hi all,
I've had an email from a gent who thinks he's sighted Western Lady II (missing for many a long year) in Rye, East Sussex. He says the name (i.e. the II) was confirmed by his wife and 2 other people but from his description I suspect it is actually Western Lady IV.
Just wondering if anyone based in that corner of the world fancies a look just to confirm?
It's a bit too far for me for a day trip and work just doesn't take me in that direction.
Regards,
Steve Powell.
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Replies:
Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 03 August 2011 at 5:43pm
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In fact we can draw a line under this. The gent who wrote to me went back for another look and confirms it is Western Lady IV.
Steve. ------------- |
Posted By: Danny
Date Posted: 04 August 2011 at 12:08am
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Hi,
Link to a photo of Western Lady at Rye.
Regards
Danny
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonykro/5977800954/sizes/l/in/set-72157627284547098/ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonykro/5977800954/sizes/l/in/set-72157627284547098/
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Posted By: jimmy p
Date Posted: 08 August 2011 at 1:13am
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Has Tony still got the old girl? Nice to see she's still in good order. Any news on wl3? ------------- A boat is a hole in the water surrounded by wood, into which one throws money |
Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 10:49pm
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Hello Jimmy,
Long time no 'speak'.
I gather Tony has sold WLIV - there is mention of an ebay auction somewhere in this forum (around May I think) but it totally slipped under my radar at the time.
WLIII is still with Greenway Ferry as 'The Fairmile'.
I took a trip on her a few weeks ago and was equally impressed with John's knowledge, skippering skills and obvious caring attitude towards her.
He is very proud indeed to be her custodian and I came away happy that she is in very safe hands this time.
Regards,
Steve. ------------- |
Posted By: FairmileB
Date Posted: 15 August 2011 at 12:08pm
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Tony had to sell her due to ill health.
She actually paid a visit to Brixham enroute to Rye when she was sold earlier in the year.
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Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 15 August 2011 at 10:23pm
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I missed seeing her by a few days but someone did send me a photo taken from Battery Gardens of her moored to what I think was her old bouy in the outer harbour, being 'buzzed' by WLIII.
Sisters briefly together again.
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Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 16 August 2011 at 8:29am
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Hi there,
Lovely shot of her at Rye there, yes heard she was for sale, hope that went OK and she can be kept up following such a great renovation, on my to do list to get aboard The Fairmile at some stage, saw in latest Ships Monthly one under restoration caught fire, not a total loss, Jamaica Moon, but not good. Many thanks,
Johnk
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Posted By: FairmileB
Date Posted: 10 October 2011 at 3:04pm
| Do you know where Jamaica Moon is now? Take it she's no longer berthed at St Osyth? |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 11 October 2011 at 10:19am
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Hi there,
Would have to try and dig out the article as not sure where she was when the fire occured...
Johnk
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Posted By: FairmileB
Date Posted: 19 November 2011 at 8:48pm
| Would be good to know where it is John |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 9:11am
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Yes, it was in a Ships Montly, but tend to give them away! sorry about that,
Johnk
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Posted By: FairmileB
Date Posted: 13 December 2011 at 11:40am
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Anyone know where Jamaican Moon is now based?
Anyone know what's happening with Western Lady IV as this picture is quite upsetting & shows her in some state:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63320828@N04/6342112654/ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/63320828@N04/6342112654/
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Posted By: jimmy p
Date Posted: 14 December 2011 at 2:31am
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Looks like WLIV has had a new deck and other remedial topsides. Hope just short end repairs to outer skin before new strakes though. Also looks like hull being rubbed down for repaint & remedial. Reckon she'll be back in commercial use as appears to be a refit and not a bodge up as a houseboat (although original decks look better don't fancy paying for that much mahogany if can help). keep us informed all those local or in know.
Best of British to the grand old lady and her new owner! ------------- A boat is a hole in the water surrounded by wood, into which one throws money |
Posted By: FairmileB
Date Posted: 05 June 2012 at 8:44pm
| Any updates on WL IV or Jamaican Moon? |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 10 June 2012 at 8:35am
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Hi there,
Just had a chance to go through this, know bit confusing (for me)with the numbers but...WL IV, seems to have a major works, surely she had a major re-fit with Tony, certainly "looked" good in photos earlier.....shows what can happen? with such vessels if just left...
Johnk
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Posted By: spacemutt
Date Posted: 23 June 2012 at 10:24am
Some recent pictures of Western Lady IV, and the Dunkirk boat, Southern Queen, and a harbour launch conversion.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/48497283@N00/sets/72157630247420844/ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48497283@N00/sets/72157630247420844/ |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 24 June 2012 at 9:38am
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Hi there,
Thanks very much indeed for these further photos, as before, quite a re-fit which as I said, was a bit of a suprise....
Johnk
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Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 02 July 2012 at 11:51am
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This appears to be quite old news, but from her entry at ... http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/308/rml-526 - http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/308/rml-526
"September 2011 A Sustainability Grant of £1000 towards the cost of remedial work on the wheelhouse was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships."
Does anyone know what the eventual plan for her is?
SteveP ------------- |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 03 July 2012 at 8:36am
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Hi there,
Interesting.....well good to see NHS awarding such funds, indeed be interesting to hear what the plan is, many thanks,
Johnk
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Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 03 July 2012 at 8:39pm
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Hi John and forum,
Now I've found this ...
http://fairmileb-rml526.com - http://fairmileb-rml526.com
... which looks like a new website under construction and is currently a long way down the Google pecking order.
Other than the (well known) brief history, there isn't much content yet and most of the menu options go nowhere.
Maybe there will be more soon.
SteveP
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Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 06 July 2012 at 9:49am
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Hi Steve and all,
Many thanks for this, indeed just the photo show running but still, said before I know, but she "looked" OK but then subsquent photos show almost total strip of deck and new deck laid.....but then decks on these things as commented, can be an issue, thanks again,
JohnK |
Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 02 September 2012 at 10:23am
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Hi there,
Just printed off the May issue of Coastal Forces Trust newsletter, sorry not to have seen earlier but there you go....many intersting things, including pice and pics on 526, see the deck being removed, quite a job.....web-site is still not fully live, piece in CFHT says eventual move to Portsmouth planned, so we shall see, as mentioned curious she deteriorated so much such her major re-fit before....
Johnk
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Posted By: stevep
Date Posted: 01 October 2012 at 12:22am
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Hi John,
Well spotted. At least that clears up some of the mystery. Maybe there will be some website updates soon.
Incidentally I took a trip aboard her sister RML497 'The Fairmile' (formerly Western Lady III) a few days ago.
Still being well cared for and in relatively good condition with an ongoing 5 year work plan in progress.
71 years old and still blows the competitors out of the water (metaphorically speaking!). Her twin Gardners sound as sweet as ever and she handles like a dream says her skipper.
Best regards,
Steve Powell.
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Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 01 October 2012 at 8:28pm
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Hi Steve,
Many thanks, good to hear she is up and running still, was as I mentioned? in Torquay a few months back, just before season started!, indeed, with such a vessel why would you go on some steel thing!!
Johnk
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Posted By: mr & mrs medri
Date Posted: 17 March 2013 at 1:17am
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HI JIMMY P
JUST READ YOU POST OF SOME TIME AGO ,AND I FEEL I MUST REPLY.WHEN I WAS THE PROUD OWNER OF RML526 SHE WAS( NEVER A BOTCHED UP HOUSE BOAT ) FOR YOU TO MAKE SUCH A COMMENT WHEN YOU DIDN'T VISIT HER WHILST I OWNED HER AND POSSIBLY DO NOT EVEN OWN OR HAVE NEVER SERVED ON SUCH A VESSEL IS TOTALLY DISGUSTING!!!!! AT A PERSONAL EXPENSE IN EXCESS OF £100.000 WAS SPENT JUST TO KEEP HER AFLOAT WHEN ALL YOU DO GOODERS TALK ABOUT SUCH A VESSEL BUT NEVER EVEN OFFER TO GIVE YOUR TIME UP TO ASSIST IN THEIR UP KEEP OR ARRANGE GRANTS TO KEEP BRITISH VESSELS FROM THEIR GRAVE .I APOLOGISE FOR MY RANT TO MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED OR WHO CURRENTLY OWN SUCH A VESSEL, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD ENGAGE THEIR BRAIN BEFORE POSTING DEROGATORY COMMENTS. TONY ( EX SRR RTD ) |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 20 March 2013 at 9:53am
| Tony please re-read Jimmy's post as it seems you have misunderstood his actually very positive comments. |