The 1903-built steam ship Daniel Adamson engineers were given the title of Marsh Volunteer Awards from National Historic Ships UK on board HQS Wellington on London’s Victoria Embankment in early November 2016.
National Historic Ships UK’s (NHS-UK) annual awards ceremony is a celebration of the UK’s maritime heritage and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with historic vessels through photography, volunteering, or by operating them and encouraging the public to go on board at festivals and events held around the UK coasts, lakes, and rivers.
Now in its sixth year, the Marsh Volunteer Awards recognise outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK.
The Marsh Team Volunteer Award was presented to the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society – Engineering Department for their efforts in operating and maintaining SS Daniel Adamson. The team received a prize of £1,000.
Martyn Heighton, Director, National Historic Ships UK said; “The story of the rescue of Daniel Adamson from the breaker’s yard, and bringing her back to her former glory with help from The Heritage Lottery, is an outstanding example of courage, commitment and sheer bloody-minded Scouse determination to succeed. Today’s success is down to the remarkable volunteers – of whom the Engineers are a vital group – who banded together to secure this ship’s future, I am over the Moon that the hard work and true value of the engineers, some of whom are sadly no longer with us, has been so publicly recognised and rewarded through this Marsh Award.”
Chairman of The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, Dan Cross said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been able to accept this award in London along with two key members of our engineering team, Joe Butler our retiring Superintendent and Graham Dean our long serving and now retired working party co-ordinator. The range of skills we had amongst our membership and their willingness to not only take on the full mechanical restoration but to share these skills with others is one of the finest examples of volunteering and team work you will ever whiteness. No job left them defeated, they had a solution for every problem and don’t forget, there is no “Haines Manual” for the Danny, every part had to be made and every solution was home grown. Now the Danny is finally back in steam, seeing her superb performance on the water is testament to the quality of the workmanship carried out over the last few years by the engineering volunteers.”
Daniel Adamson, or The Danny, as it is affectionately known, is now a floating and cruising visitor attraction moored at Liverpool’s iconic Albert Dock until the end of December 2016 and is open to the public for guided tours Thursday to Sunday 11am to 5pm. The ship will then travel to Ellesmere Port and Salford Quays. The Danny is available for private hire.
Volunteers worked hard for more than 15 years towards gaining £3.8 Million from The Heritage Lottery to save and restore The Daniel Adamson. For more details and background on its story go to www.thedanny.co.uk
