Richmond Venturer
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Built 1908 Lekkerkirk, Utrecht
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Length 26m
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Beam 5m
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Draft 1.2m
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Original name De Tyd
Zal't Leeren, which
means Time Will Tell
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Original engine: 2 cylinder Deutz, replaced 1990 by 6 cylinder 135hp
Lister
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Cargo capacity 136.5 metric tonnes
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Corry II lying in Holland |
Little
is known of the Venturer's
history as her ship's papers were lost in a fire during World War 2.
We do know, however, that she was
built and traded in Holland and
was probably one of 2,000 vessels the Germans commandeered during WW2 for
Operation Sea Lion, Germany's plan to invade the UK. The bows are asymmetric
- indicating that a section of the Starboard bow was cut out to turn the
barge into a landing craft.
In 1957 she
was registered in Rotterdam where her name was changed to Vereenigining
III or Society III. In 1971 she was re-registered at Corry II.
In
1988 the
River Thames
Boat Project, a registered charity, was started by Martin Emerson (then
Mayor of Richmond). It was European Year of the Environment and he wanted a
boat on the Thames that would be used for education and recreation by both
the able-bodied and people with disabilities.
That year the
Gerja (as she was then called) was lying in Rotterdam for sale. She was
bought by an agent acting for Richard Branson.
By the time she was imported to the UK,
Richard Branson
had changed his mind and Alan Borough, a Thames philanthropist, sold the
vessel to the charity for £1.00.
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Gerja 1989 |
Richmond Venturer 2005 |
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Challenge Anneka October 1990 |
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Funds
were raised and the boat was re-engined. In early 1990 Martin Emerson
approached the BBC's 'Challenge Anneka' TV programme for help to convert the
former cargo boat into a community boat. They agreed and the Trustees
appointed a design team: Derek Plummer (Architect), Simon Harris (Marine
Engineer) and Miranda Jaggers (RTBP Project Manager).
They had only
5 months in which to design the conversion and fit out. It had to include a
large multi-purpose saloon, sleeping accommodation and disabled access to enable
the widest sections of the community to make use of the boat. Structural
steel work had to be completed before filming could start; the original steel
cargo hatches were replaced by the new upper deck, the hatch combings were
raised for added head room, fresh water tanks and holding tanks fitted, and the
main companionway and handrails built. |
October
1990 the challenge started - three days of filming during which the saloon and
galley were fitted out, the lift installed, the hull and topsides painted and
Anneka Rice chose the new name - Richmond Venturer. |
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Saloon before Challenge Anneka |
Saloon today |
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1991 -
1995 additional funds were raised to build the wheelhouse, WCs, showers and
bunks. |
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In 1994
the first voyages took place - a School on the River visit and a trip with a
party of disabled residents from the Royal Star and Garter home in Richmond.
Since then thousands of people have enjoyed time spent on board the Richmond
Venturer.
In
June 2004 Prince Charles spent a day in May visiting projects on the Thames. He
arrived by river on the Windrush and came aboard the Richmond Venturer.
There he met a party of children with disabilities from Bedelsford School
Kingston and some of our volunteers.
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In 2005 Richmond
Venturer became the first community boat to attend the London International
Boat Show. |
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