Image: Teresa Fuller

The winners of National Historic Ships UK’s 2017 photography competition and Marsh Volunteer Awards were revealed at an awards ceremony yesterday at the Corporation of Trinity House, London, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

National Historic Ships UK’s annual awards ceremony is a celebration of maritime heritage around the UK coasts, lakes, and rivers, encouraging 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

The accolade of overall winner of the 2017 photography competition was awarded to Teresa Fuller after her image, ‘Butty boat Ilford breaks the September Dawn’, was chosen from hundreds of entries to scoop the £1,000 prize awarded by National Historic Ships UK.  The prize will go to a vessel of Teresa’s choice on the National Register of Historic Vessels.

The judging panel were delighted to see both professional and amateur photographers represented, although to ensure fairness these details are not disclosed when selecting the best photographs.

Commenting on Teresa’s winning image, judge Paul Atterbury said: “Having had a long-term attachment to Britain’s inland waterway network, I am delighted to see a canal boat as the Overall Winner. National Historic Ships UK seems to conjure up sea-going and coastal vessels, so it is good to remember that canal craft are also part of our great boating story.

As someone long familiar with canals and canal boating, I can say with authority that this photograph really does it – glorious light and landscape, early morning autumn mist and a great sense of adventure, while at the same time reminding us of a vital but often overlooked part of our boating history. For decades, so much of our ordinary trading life depended upon pairs of narrow boats making their way slowly through the landscape. This scene, exceptional and romantic today, would have been commonplace eighty years ago.”

Now in its seventh year, the Marsh Volunteer Awards recognise outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK.

The Individual Award goes to Bob Irvine, a volunteer on HMS Unicorn, who was named as the 2017 Marsh Volunteer Award winner and receives a prize of £500.

The Marsh Team Volunteer Award was presented to the Friends of President for their efforts in operating and maintaining President and Kildare. The team received a prize of £1,000.

The Engaging with the Public Marsh Volunteer Award was presented to Peter Dolby of The Endeavour Trust for his work on The Endeavour. He received a prize of £500.

The Skylark IX Recovery Trust was presented with a Special Commendation Award and receives a prize of £500.

The Annual National Flagship of the Year Award for operational vessels was awarded to Caronia (Solent), Daniel Adamson (North West), Our Daddy (South West) and Reminder (East Anglia).

For further details on the vessels on the three National Registers and the Replica List held by National Historic Ships UK visit www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk.

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