This page is part of the Harwich Mayflower Project. Click to visit
About the Harwich Mayflower Project
The Harwich Mayflower Project currently has a Board of
Trustees, a Managing Director and approximately 80
members. We are drawn from all walks of life and and are
united in attempting to regenerate Harwich.
We also wish to celebrate the connections between Harwich and the United
States. Harwich was a vital cog in the early settlement of the Americas.
The Master of the Mayflower Christopher Jones, was a Harwich man and
the ship was a Harwich ship for much of it's existence. Capt Newport, who
headed the Jamestown Settlement was also from Harwich.
Chairman
Tom Daly
Trustees
John Acton
Kathleen Calver
Martin Spurr
Managing Director
Andrew March
Chief Shipwright
Alan Williams
Tom Daly is a local Dental Practice owner. He has lived in the North Essex
area for more than 30 years and is passionate about regenerating the
area.
John Acton is a businessman who moved to the area from his native
Cumbria. He has had many businesses in Harwich and Colchester. He is a
former soldier and wishes to return the region to it's former glory.
Kathleen Calver works in the voluntary sector and specialises in assisting
the Youth Offending Services. Her area of expertise is in youth training.
Charles Bull is a retired Sea Captain. He owns a building company and
hardware shops in the town. Since his retirement he has been very active
in many local charities and good causes.
Martin Spurr lives locally in a village next to Harwich. He is very
experienced in the world of finance and banking. He is mainly involved in
fund raising
Andrew March has recently retired as a Commercial Director with Vitol.
He has worked within the oil and oil refining companies. He has a long and
prestigious CV and now is working almost full time for our project.
Alan Williams is a very experienced shipwright working with wooden
ships and boats worldwide. His impressive CV is below
Master Shipwright Alan Williams, CV
1972-1976. Apprentice Yacht and Boat builder. W.A. Souters. Cowes.
I.O.W.
Groves and Gutteridge. Cowes. I.O.W.
1976-1985. Journeyman Boat builder. Europe, The America’s (north and
south) and Australasia.
1985-To Date. Master Shipwright. UK.
Qualifications. City and Guilds, Part 1, 2 and 3. Passed with distinction.
Awards. 1994, World Ship Trust. Award for Individual Achievement.
2007, Classic Boats, Restoration of the Year Award.
Pivotal Projects.
1983-1984. Solway Lass. Built 1907 in Holland, riveted iron construction,
rigged as an Auxiliary Trading Ketch. Last traded as a Motor Ship out of
Savu Savu in 1982. This tired old Vessel with every frame showing like a
hungry horse was to become the flagship of Matilda Cruises fleet of 5
cruse vessels. My task was to get her there with a budget of $750k AUS.
First designing then implementing with the aid of a workforce of up to 18
people on a Brown Field Sight. The result a Classic Sailing Schooner, able
to sit 60 guests down to a 5 course meal cooked on board, backed up by a
full bar and attendant cellarage whilst cruising Sydney Harbour.
1985-1995. Spry. A Severn Trow, Built 1894 by William Hurd, Chepstow,
Ketch rigged and for the Stone trade to the Somerset Levels. The
Ironbridge George Museum employed me on behalf of The Upper Severn
Navigation Trust owners of the Spry to come up with a feasibility Study,
Schedule of Work and Budget. This being accepted I was asked to put
together a MSC Scheme, develop a Green Field Sight and lead the project.
From cutting down the trees required, to forging and fire welding wrought
iron fixtures and fittings, culminating in sea trials in 1995.
1991. Lydney Wreck. Discovering a wreck, the evolutionary missing link in
the development of the Severn Trow whilst beach combing, led me to
propose to the Ironbridge George Museum that we undertake an
Archaeological dig on the sight to record the remains before the tidal
erosion caries them away. They agreed, on the understanding that we had
to fund it, so Kate Clark and I applied and received a grant of £6132.87
from English Heritage. We undertook the dig, compiled post dig drawings
and report. Published. in Ironbridge Archaeological Series No 27.