KING'S LYNN WORFOLK BOAT TRUST

Embargoed until 00.01 on Friday 21 November 2014 Baden Powell wins Heritage Lottery Fund support Today, King's Lynn Worfolk Boat Trust (KLWBT) has been notified that a grant of £76,300 will be made from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards the cost of getting the 1900 cockling boat Baden Powell fully restored and back sailing in the River Great Ouse and the Wash. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project focuses on the 34ft wooden Baden Powell, built in 1900 by Walter Worfolk. She was the first of more than 600 boats built in King's Lynn by the company he started. The business eventually became Worfolk Bros, with his sons Gerald and Bill carrying on a family tradition of wooden boatbuilding until the 1980s. As part of the project, local young people will be introduced to the basics of woodworking and boatbuilding during 2015, and in 2016 the Baden Powell will be offering sail training opportunities for youth groups. River trips with passengers will inform locals and visitors about the long and valuable contribution the port of King's Lynn made to the maritime history of Norfolk, East Anglia and the world. Project Leader and local jeweller Tim Clayton is delighted with the grant: "We have rescued the Baden Powell from gradual deterioration in past years. Now we can proceed at a faster pace with the restoration programme - in the town centre. By 2016 she will be good for another hundred years in the water, fulfilling a new role in the history of King's Lynn and giving many people the new experience of seeing the town from the river to learn more about its history. King's Lynn deserves its own historic boat." Explaining the importance of the HLF support, the head of the HLF in the East of England, Robyn Llewellyn, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the King's Lynn Worfolk Boat Trust to rescue an important example of maritime heritage and help develop the skills of young people. Thanks to the enthusiasm of local volunteers, future generations will be able to view and sail on the Baden Powell, and more people will be able to learn about the local history of boatbuilding.” Note to editors: King’s Lynn Worfolk Boat Trust press release no.23 Website www.floatourboat.co.uk Contacts: Ken Hill 01553 763675 ken_hill@talktalk.net Tim Clayton 01553 772329 info@floatourboat.co.uk About the Heritage Lottery Fund: Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 36,000 projects with more than £5.9bn across the UK, including over £403million to 3,499 projects in the East of England. www.hlf.org.uk