National Historic Ships UK Award Winners 2024 Unveiled
The winners of the 2024 National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) Awards were announced on 18 November 2024, in a special film recorded in Windermere and premiered on YouTube. The awards, celebrating the UK’s maritime heritage, showcased excellence in photography, volunteering, conservation, and vessel operations.
This year’s awards ceremony took place in the scenic Lake District, hosted by Windermere Jetty Museum and Windermere Lake Cruises. Both organizations, dating back to the Victorian era, own a combined fleet of 18 historic vessels on the National Registers.
Photography Competition
The NHS-UK Photography Competition, an annual highlight, received nearly 500 entries from across the UK and beyond, under the theme True Colours. The competition awards prizes in four categories:
- Photographer of the Year: Peter Collins (Portsmouth) for Painting Trafalgar.
- Classic Boat Award: Chrissie Westgate (West Mersea, Essex) for A Sinking Feeling.
- Newcomer of the Year: Amy Lawson (Perth, Australia) for A White World.
- People’s Choice Award: Julie Fletcher (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire) for True LMS Locomotive Colours, featuring a historic narrowboat meeting a steam train.
Additional commendations included Old and New – Waverley at Canary Wharf by Mark Dillen and Pudge by Shaun Mills.
Marsh Volunteer Awards
The Marsh Volunteer Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the preservation and operation of historic vessels. Volunteers are essential to the maritime heritage sector, ensuring the survival of many historic vessels. This year’s winners included:
- Group Award: The Wick Society Boat Club (Wick, Caithness).
- Individual Award: Christopher Barlow, West Wales Maritime Heritage Society (Pembroke, Pembrokeshire).
- Shipshape Award: The Pythoneers (Chesterfield, Derbyshire).
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Pam Bathurst, Medway Queen Preservation Society (Gillingham, Kent).
Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award
The Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award, launched in memory of NHS-UK’s late director Martyn Heighton, highlights best practices in vessel conservation. The 2024 winner, Bernard Condon (Coleraine, Northern Ireland), was recognized for his exceptional work restoring the 1964 lifeboat Grace Paterson Ritchie, preserving 95% of its original hull and fittings.
A special commendation went to Boathouse 4 at Portsmouth Historic Quarter for constructing CMB 4R, a full-scale operational replica of a First World War torpedo boat, advancing knowledge while safeguarding the original vessel.
Flagships of the Year
The Flagship of the Year Awards honor historic vessels that promote maritime heritage through public engagement and events. This year’s winners were:
- National Flagship of the Year: PS Waverley (Glasgow), a 1946 paddle steamer.
- Operational Flagships of the Year: ST Challenge (Medway, Kent) and Provident (Oban, Argyll & Bute).
- Static Flagship of the Year: Lady Daphne (Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall).
These vessels embody the role of ambassadors for the UK’s maritime heritage, showcasing their historical and cultural significance to the public.
About National Historic Ships UK
NHS-UK serves as the official voice for historic vessels in the UK. It advises the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and other organizations on ship conservation priorities. NHS-UK also maintains the National Register of Historic Vessels, which lists over 1,000 significant craft alongside other registers of historic and replica vessels.
The annual awards inspire public engagement and ensure the continued appreciation and preservation of the UK’s rich maritime heritage.
