Hrimfaxi Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 I'm sitting here, thinking about my trip to the Broads next week, when I remembered a day trip that used to launch from Great Yarmouth aboard the Golden Galleon... I want to know what happened to her and have done a little research. I've found some posts on other forums that she is still afloat, although derelict, moored around Reedham? Talk of it being donated to the Sea Scouts? Last post I could see was in 2009... Does anyone know anything further? Would be great to find out some recent updates! If she's still afloat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsea14Ian Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Don't think it's in Reedham,unsure where it is.Sure someone will give an answer. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annv Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 She was scraped some years ago she was indeed moored at Reedham near New Cut mouth for a long time sinking and being pumped out by fire brigade, she was a w ii gun boat originally i believe. her owner bought the Waveney River Centre which he then sold and retired to Stokesby.. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrimfaxi Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 So she was scraped in the end, shame. Got some great memories of it, both aboard and sailing past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meantime Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 She was sadly scrapped, I think John Cressey got the job to scrap it at St Olaves. More can be read about it here, http://www.ourgreatyarmouth.org.uk/page_id__259.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VetChugger Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 What is the boat moored alongside here at Oulton Broad? Looks to be quite an ancient girl. The one on the inside of the tour boat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnks34 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Is that Southern Belle? http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/photo-gallery-great-yarmouth-pleasure-boat-service-scuppered-1-866529 Reading through the article it seems Network Rail were part of Southern Belle’s problem. No suprises there then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meantime Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 It is the Southern Belle. A lovely boat that now seems to be in decline and in need of a little TLC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Ricko Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/393/golden-galleon 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 A couple of photos from my own collection - first one dated early eighties (I think) and the others from 2006 I have an idea that there was a last ditch attempt to buy the boat but the owner wouldn't sell (allegedly) 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webntweb Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Golden Galleon turning at the junction of the Yare and New Cut late August 83. The white boat is one of Classic Cruisers' Rhapsody class - either M748 or M749, as Craig's database shows M747 being with Highcraft from 81. Roy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrimfaxi Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks for posting those photos! That's exactly how I remember it. Those later photos, with the shark mouth around the bow, I wonder how that came to be. Also, that nationalhistoricships.org website is a great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 27 minutes ago, Hrimfaxi said: Thanks for posting those photos! That's exactly how I remember it. Those later photos, with the shark mouth around the bow, I wonder how that came to be. Golden Galleon was a Fairmile "B" H.D.M.L. (Harbour defence motor launch), which were built during the War in a lot of private yards, including Herbert Woods and Percivals, on the Broads. There were several different versions. Some were used as minelayers and some had a false funnel, which made them look like destroyers, when seen at night. The sharks teeth were painted on much later when she was in private hands, but were appropriated from a flotilla of Fairmile "D" MTBs, which I believe was based in Felixtowe. They were not worn by MLs during the war, as far as I know. MLs were used extensively in the Pacific, during the Arakan Campaign to remove the Japanese from Burma in 1945. They were also used in the famous raid on St Nazaire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulu Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 This has got me remembering a ship Im sure was moored on the right going into yarmouth before turning right onto Breydon. It was red and Im sure had Cat as part of the name. It was there im guessing in the 70's 80's? I just remember as a kid always wanting to see it as we passed. Anyone remember it or am I just imagining it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpy Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 10 hours ago, Vaughan said: The sharks teeth were painted on much later when she was in private hands, but were appropriated from a flotilla of Fairmile "D" MTBs, which I believe was based in Felixtowe. They were not worn by MLs during the war, as far as I know. HMS Beehive, later the Little Ships hotel (aka the Custom House annexe), sadly long demolished for dock extensions. There was a lot of wartime memorabilia in the bar - I can confirm no shark mouths, all Admiralty grey except one that was in 'razzle dazzle'. The cellar walls were covered with graffiti, cartoons and caricatures, at the time I never thought to take photographs as we all thought it was a listed building and would never disappear. Unfortunately there was an accidental fire - form your own conclusion! Eta: As mentioned in "We didn't mean to go to sea" when they cleared Customs inward. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 It seems it was the 55th flotilla of D class MGBs and this was their unique emblem. Interesting to find that they were based at HMS Midge, from Oct 41 to May 43. Midge was the coastal forces base at Gt Yarmouth. So I guess someone must have remembered those sharks teeth, and painted them on to the Golden Galleon, years later. I think the photo was probably taken in Portsmouth, where they were transferred later. The photo is scanned from "Dog Boats at War", by Leonard C. Reynolds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairTmiddlin Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 A few pictures on here http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Golden-Galleon.html Lots just before her demise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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