© The Danny
Many of us are becoming familiar with the beautiful pictures of The Danny earning her keep on the River Mersey, Manchester Ship Canal, and River Weaver in Cheshire, but it seems opportune to look back 20 years when things were very different.
In early February 2004, despite being a unique century-old maritime survivor, she was earmarked for scrapping at Garston. But word of this soon got around the tightly knit maritime community, and a group of 20 individuals held a hastily arranged meeting to inspect. The Danny and Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) was formed on 21st February 2004.
The campaign was spearheaded by Mersey tug skipper Dan Cross, with the help of Tony Hirst, a former Ellesmere Port Boat Museum director. Dan’s employer, Svitzer Marine, on hearing of the steam tug’s plight, offered to dry dock and survey her for free to assess whether she was, in fact, worth saving. The next thing he knew, Dan had bought the Daniel Adamson from owner MSCC for the princely sum of £1.00, and the campaign was underway.
The scale of the challenge became clear when the cost of insurance to tow her from Eastham to a berth across the river in Liverpool was quoted at £2,000. But with the goodwill and generosity of many, the money was raised. Even though she had been stationary for two decades, and the move from Ellesmere Port would not be done under her own steam, a new chapter in the Daniel Adamson’s life was about to start. There was a determination that she would steam again, and the support from many quarters gave DAPS the confidence to throw everything into the campaign.
The next task was clearing two decades’ worth of mud, rainwater and rubbish. As the media and Internet forums spread the word about the Daniel Adamson’s rescue, more members and volunteers joined up to DAPS, bringing much needed skills, enthusiasm, and crucially, time. Ships’ surveyors and engineers, pipefitters, plumbers, joiners, electricians and many more, retired and still in employment, all offered their services free of charge.
© The Danny
Original crew members also turned up, including John Deakin, whose knowledge of the quirky workings of the old vessel proved invaluable. But more—much more—was needed. The commitment and fundraising drive paid off, and in February 2015, The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £3.8m to restore the Daniel Adamson to full working order.
The exciting news meant that she would once again be able to sail under her own steam…. Here they are, eight years on, still run by amazing volunteers and two members of staff.
For more information visit https://www.thedanny.co.uk/events
