Skylark IX’S historic name is top priority for Dunkirk ‘little ships’ restoration plan
She was one of the 850-strong armada of heroic ‘little ships’ which rescued more than 330,000 British and allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, but was destined to become a neglected wreck in danger of being lost for ever.
After becoming a pleasure boat ferrying holiday-makers around Scotland’s lochs and coasts, the skylark ix had ended up a sorry sight, languishing in a desperate state of neglect and in danger of being beyond salvage.
As part of the plucky flotilla, Skylark IX had her own ‘finest hour’ in Operation Dynamo – also known as ‘the Miracle of Dunkirk’ – and it seemed fitting that she should not end her days as an eyesore slowly rotting on the muddy bed of the river lev en at Balloch.
What started as an ambitious plan to save the vessel for future generations quickly won backing from supporters of all ages who were keen to see skylark ix in a repair yard and ultimately restored as what is widely believed to be one of only a very few survivors in Scotland of the Second World War operation.
The full recovery project is now underway and has fittingly centred on preserving the boat’s name, which features in the National Historic Ships UK Register.
The two-day project to stabilise the flaking paint and timbers and preserve the name was made possible by the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and carried out by conservator Rowan Gillis of AOC Archaeology Group.
A schedule of further repairs has been agreed to ensure that the historic wooden-hulled vessel which sank in the River Leven in 2010 and lay half-submerged for two years is stable enough to be returned to Dumbarton in the coming years.
Once all the restoration work is completed, it is anticipated she will be transported by road on a custom-built cradle from her temporary home at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine to the grounds of the Museum’ s denny tank in dumbarton. There, it is hoped, she will sit at the heart of a new £3 million spirit of skylark centre.
Claire Mcdade, project manager at the Skylark IX Recovery Project, explained the importance of keeping her story alive: “Over the last two years, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to build a true picture of Skylark’s condition and significance and develop a conservation management plan.
“We started with Skylark’s name as it is such a significant and valuable part of the vessel and such a wonderful symbol of our rich social history last century.
“As well as her wartime service, the name ‘Skylark’ and that famous rallying call ‘All Aboard the Skylark’ resonates with so many people. It brings to life that period when the train network expanded, we fell in love with trips ‘doon the watter’ and shiny new seaside resorts sprang up across the country.”
The 50ft long, 30-tonne Skylark IX was built in Poole in 1934 for Jake Bolson. She was one of 11 Skylarks he operated around Bournemouth as the town became one of the country’s first seaside resorts.
Post-war, Skylark IX returned to work as a pleasure boat taking cruises from Morecambe, Margate, Portobello, Burntisland and on Loch Lomond.