Dunkirk 75th Anniversary Trip.

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oldgit

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On Friday last the ADLS should have departed Teddington bound for the Royal Docks.On Monday they will be heading down to Queenborough for an overnight stop en route to Ramsgate the following day..
Suprised no mention on forum.
Weather permitting the plan is for them to cross over to Dunkerque from Ramsgate on Thursday 21st May,hopefully seen off by a flypast of the BBMF.
An estimate of 50 "little ships" will be gathered together to take part in this venture.
In addition a group of private boat owners will be making the trip,many from Thames motorboat clubs and around 15/20 from the Medway. Total of 80 boats will be attempting the crossing ,some like me for the first time.
As you can imagine the logistics of arranging this support fleet,including arranging berths at both ends must have been a nightmare.
Thanks must go to Andrew Bernstein (ATYC)for having sorted it all out.
Thanks Andrew. Fred (OG)
 
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I've got a few photos I took as the ADLS entered the lock , and also some of Gloriana as she came through and saluted the little ships by shipping her oars.
 
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Some have gone straight round to Ramsgate because of iffy forecasts.
Did it in 2010,was a great trip,lots going on over there and it's great to see a huge Union Jack flag flying from the church in Dunkirk for the duration.Locked out to watch the wreath laying off the beaches.
Unfortunately the wreath laying won't happen this year because of the tides.

Leave your mobile on and watch it go beep beep,welcome to France when your exactly half way across.....big brother is watching you...spooky:)
You will enjoy it Old Git,plenty of people I know are going but sadly I can't make it this year.
ADLS schedule of events is on their website,and don't forget some pics.
 
And when your admiring the little ships be sure to take a look at Lazy Days.
Last winter she was a shell on the hardstanding at Bray Marina and has been fully restored with new engines etc etc by Colin Messer of Windsor.
 
SWMBO is crewing one if the boats. I am going to Ramsgate tomorrow to catch up with them but will not do the crossing. Someone has to keep the cats company
 
A story I was told from the 2010 reunion.

A little ship that went across had on board the ashes of a veteran in a urn which the crew of the little ship had been entrusted with by the widow with strict instructions to scatter them off the beaches during the wreath laying.Now all on board liked to partake in a drink or five and thought the dead chap should be included in all the merriment,they talked to him as if he was there,was part of the crew so whenever the bottle was passed around late at night whilst on board they put just a drop in his urn.When they came to scatter the ashes they unscrewed the lid,turned the urn upside down expecting the ashes to scatter in the wind....they didn't,they had congealed during the crossing,went plop and sank like a stone....

I like to think the old soldier would have pissed himself laughing looking at the faces of those on board....:)
 
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