| ABOUT THE CHARITABLE TRUST |
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Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust takes care of the only surviving fleet of Norfolk wherries: Hathor, Olive and Norada. The wherries were last owned by Peter Bower and Barney Matthews. Olive was the first of the three to be offered for charter again in 1978, followed by Norada (then Lady Edith) in 1984. Once Wherry Yacht Charter had been formed as a non-profit making organisation in 1985, Pleasure Wherry Hathor was bought and restored to full sailing glory by 1988. The fleet was then complete as we know it today, housed at the boat base at Barton House, Wroxham. You can read more about their curent status below.
Established in 2002, the Trust is a registered company (no. 4552637) limited by guarantee (with the Trustees as the directors) and makes audited accounts available each year (see the Charity Commission page for WYCCT). It aims to restore, maintain and preserve Hathor, Olive and Norada for public benefit, to foster skills related to these activities, and enable education on wherries' important historic and cultural importance in the Broads. The three wherries were purchased in 2004, following an award of £492,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards their purchase and restoration. The Trustees' work currently concentrates on the administration of the HLF award, and planning the restoration of the base and Norada, with Olive and Hathor as medium term projects. The eventual aim is that the Trust will finance itself as far as possible from charter income and public sailings alongside donations.
Trustees (and their roles) comprise Prof. Aitken Clark (Chair), Paul Walshe (HLF), John Ash (project management), Jane Bryant (Friends link), Declan Keiley (business plans), Diana Shipp (newly appointed); Bill Housden is not a Trustee but acts as Treasurer; Sheena McKean is our administrator and Peter Lines is project coordinator. Lovewell Blake are employed as our accountant and company secretariat.
The Friends is a sub-committee of the Trust and does not have elections or named roles. It is chaired by Katy Walters and currently includes Jane Bryant, Bill Housden, Peter Bower, Pauline Simpson, Laura Chellis and Susannah Cox, although contributions are welcome from any member. This group carries out fundraising activities and recruits further members to support the work of the Trust on an ongoing basis. Volunteers, in the form of wherry crew, guides for wherry viewings, staff on fundraising stalls, events organisers, and those helping with Friends administration and the maintenance and restoration of our base and boats, are all drawn from the Friends.
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| Current status |
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March 2010:
Norada
Click here for Norada's full history and details. After sinking (briefly) at her moorings in 2005, she spent 2007-2009 out of the water undergoing extensive hull restoration with replacement of several frames and many planks, and rebuilding of the counter stern and tabernacle. Although she returned to the water in the summer of 2009, she still requires a full internal refit and the replacement of the lino on her deck and coach roof before being able to take passengers. Work on Norada is currently on hold until the boat base is completed.
Olive
Click here for Olive's full history and details. Currently she is afloat, under cover, and awaiting repair and restoration including new internal fittings (cooker, fridge etc).
Hathor
Click here for Hathor's fascinating full history and details. She is still in sailing order, but after the 2009 tour she had to retire and await an out-of-the-water survey. This is an insurance requirement before she can become available to carry passengers once again, but as well as the structural work the survey will undoubtedly identify, she needs an extensive internal refit to bring her back to a suitable standard for charter work.
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Registered Charity: No. 1096073
http://www.wherryyachtcharter.org/about.html
Updated 5/5/09 by the
WYC Webmaster
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