The Marsh Volunteer Awards recognise outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the sector with many vessels depending on them to keep going. These Awards, run in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust, celebrate the hard work and achievement of the many diverse individuals and groups who volunteer in support of maritime heritage.
There are four Award categories: Group, Individual, and Shipshape project – for projects listed on NHS-UK’s Shipshape Network. Cash prizes of £1000 are supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust and can be spent however the volunteers choose.
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Group
The Wick Society Boat Team (Wick, Caithness)
There were many strong contenders for this year’s group award, but one application really stood out for the judges, showing the range of tasks undertaken by a volunteer team in a remote community, with members ranging from 18 to 89 years in age. The 2024 Group Award is presented to The Wick Society Boat Club. Founded in 1971 to protect and promote Wick's history, today the Wick Society has under its wing the Heritage Centre, Johnston Collection, oral history project Wick Voices, and the 1890 Fifie Isabella Fortuna.
Built by James Weir of Arbroath, for fisherman John Smith, Isabella (her original name) was launched in September 1890 and was the largest yawl in the harbour. For 86 years, generations of the same Smith family fished with the vessel from Arbroath. When in 1976 the Smith family retired from the sea, Hobson Rankin, an enthusiastic restorer, bought the vessel and began a 4-year restoration project. The Wick Society bought Isabella Fortuna in 1997 with the aim of using the vessel to promote the rich heritage of Wick's fishing industry. Since that date enthusiastic volunteers have been engaged on a continuous programme of renewal and restoration. With a voluntary crew the vessel visits ports for festivals and other sea-based events and promotes the aims and purposes of The Wick Society.
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Individual
Christopher Barlow, The West Wales Maritime Heritage Society (Pembroke)
The Individual Marsh Volunteer Award goes to Christopher Barlow from The West Wales Maritime Heritage Society. As a volunteer, Christopher has made a huge contribution to the Society. He has been instrumental in conserving the historic lifeboat Charterhouse, whilst also undertaking the role of Chair of Trustees and directing the work of other volunteers.
Charterhouse is a self-righting lifeboat built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London. She served the RNLI station at Fishguard from 1909 to 1930 and was one of the first three Motor Lifeboats designed and built to have a motor from the drawing board stage. After retiring from service, she was converted into a motor yacht and later a houseboat. In 2009 she was donated by the owner to the Charterhouse Returns Trust with the objective of exhibiting her in Fishguard. Conservation work began, with the plan to make her the centrepiece of a new marina to be built in the town, but this plan was eventually shelved. In February 2023, Charterhouse was officially donated by the Charterhouse Returns Trust to the West Wales Maritime Heritage Museum. With restoration now complete, there is a shelter over the lifeboat to both protect and allow all weather viewing and conservation.
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Shipshape Project
The Pythoneers (Chesterfield, Derbyshire)
This year's Shipshape award goes to a project whose dedicated volunteer team works to maintain a 31 mile stretch of canal as a safe and clean environment for all - The Pythoneers. The team use the 1929 narrow boat Python (owned and operated by Chesterfield Canal Trust) to maintain the Chesterfield Canal.
Built by W J Yarwoods & Sons of Northwich, Cheshire, Python was used as a carrier in the Fellows Morton & Clayton fleet until 1949 when she was sold to the British Transport Commission and passed into the South Eastern Division carrying fleet. In 1974 she became part of British Waterways' maintenance fleet and was shortened in 1982. Python was handed over to the Chesterfield Canal Trust in 2009. Now decked out as a tug and repainted in British Waterways' blue and yellow colours, she is used for maintaining the canal and as a promotional vessel for the work of the Trust.
Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Lifetime Achievement Award
Pam Bathurst, The Medway Queen Preservation Society (Gillingham, Kent)
Special congratulations also go to Pam Bathurst from The Medway Queen Preservation Society who has been recognised by the Marsh Charitable Trust for Lifetime Achievement. Pam first volunteered with the Society twenty years ago, getting involved in local publicity for the 1924-built paddle steamer Medway Queen, presenting illustrated talks nationwide and organising the ship’s recent centenary commemorations.
