The Harwich Mayflower Project
Trustees position statement July 2017
The current Trustees board have been in place for approximately six months and in that time we have built on the foundations laid by our former Trustees, acknowledging the huge contribution they have made to the project and to the people of Harwich. This includes personal donations to the Charity of more than £350,000.
In recognition of his unstinting commitment and generosity to the project Tom Daly has been invited to become President of the Charity. The Trustees are delighted to welcome Tom into this role.
The Harwich Mayflower project was established in 2009
The foundation documents tells us that the charity has the following objects.
“BUILD A NEAR REPLICA OF THE MAYFLOWER. PARTICIPATE IN THE MAYFLOWER 400 COMMEMORATIONS. CREATE A HARWICH MARITIME HERITAGE MUSEUM. SUPPORT THE RENEWED SHIPBUILDING SKILLS. PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIPS, TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS”
The founder Trustees Group enhanced the objects by committing to build an ocean-going ship to make the crossing to the USA in 2020 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the original crossing by the Pilgrim Fathers.
The current Trustees inherited that vision and have continued to seek funding for the construction of the ship. This work will continue, though to meet the 2020 deadline, and build the ship in the way planned, funds must be in place by March 2018 or the 2020 date will be missed. We recognise that construction of an ocean going vessel is a significant undertaking and requires an investment of some £10m at today’s prices. The Trustees will continue to seek funds for this ship build up to, and after, March 2018 as the construction and operation of a seagoing vessel will be of great benefit to the Harwich economy.
It was always the intention that once the seagoing vessel was built another would be constructed which would remain in Harwich. The Trustees have brought forward this commitment and are now also seeking the necessary resources to build a shore based replica of the Mayflower which will become the focus of the 2020 Mayflower 400 celebrations in Harwich.
This replica Mayflower will be the centerpiece of the former station yard, part of which is to be developed as a Heritage Centre and tourist destination. Thus, preserving it for local people.
The Charity is to be re-named as the Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre to reflect this expanded vision. The construction of the ship will retain the existing project title.
The Station buildings are to be adapted to house two significant historic collections.
• The Bob Clow collection of Rail Memorabilia.
• The Hazelton Collection.
Training will transfer to the main site once a new scheme is devised.
In addition to housing the “Mayflower” the station yard will also have some other important exhibits, all serviced by the recently completed Visitors Centre.
The Trustees are working with others to promote the history of the town, including the commissioning of statues of Christopher Jones and John Alderton.
The Trustees have agreed a new Volunteers Policy and have launched a recruitment plan to encourage volunteering in Harwich.
A new Membership Scheme has been agreed and will be rolled out over the coming weeks.
The Trustees are committed to listening to the local community, the regular community meetings will continue and steering groups will be established to support initiatives across the organization. Times for this will be varied to allow access by as many people as possible.
The Trustees are aware that there are individuals who, for whatever reason, wish to undermine our Volunteers and the Charities work. This is expressed in letters to the press and in the content of the “Ships Blog”.
The Trustees welcome critical friends but criticism that makes personal slurs on volunteers and staff, past and present is not acceptable. Neither is it acceptable to seek, by perverted means to use the Charity as a way to the settle old scores. This activity does great dis-service to the Harwich economy and people.
The Trustees will respond respectfully to genuine complaints and criticism.