Donations at 51.695°N, 04.943°W
February
All was quiet on the Cleddau front in February, except… except that there was an extended cruise through boating memories. Years ago it had seemed a bright idea to archive photographs of places discovered via Cleddau’s boating adventures. Meanderings the little photo album was called and over time, over the years, the number of albums grew, as did the on-board library of them.
During a visit to the boat in January Book Number 20 was picked up: there were pages still to be filled, and nothing to show of any of Cleddau’s exploits in 2025…
Wow, here was a post-Christmas winter project. Key photos from the cruising year of 2025 were chosen. Admittedly, in a year so much affected by drought and lock closures, the cruising had been limited.
2025 photographs selected and annotated, it dawned then that the years of 2023 and 2024 also needed the Meanderings treatment. So, February saw three cruising years’ worth of boating moments recalled, watery adventures re-lived and family exploits remembered…
Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal, just south of Great Haywood Junction
Mid-Feb there had been a less sedentary weekend: “We’re coming down to help you out,” the Cheshire One had announced. It was a garage issue – stuff to be cleared out and taken to the recycling centre, stuff to be sorted and “the shipwright’s tool chest” to be found. The mutterings about a sea chest had gone on for a while and the thing itself was promised to a museum in West Wales.
In a mad few hours Cheshire Mum and Techno Son-in-Law helped clear numerous unwanted items – and load the sea chest into the car.
March
“March will be a good time to take in your shipwright’s tool chest,” was the message from the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society (https://www.wwmhs.org.uk/ , based in what had been Hancock’s Shipyard in Pembroke Dock).
And so, westbound, there was a drive across the Midlands, down the well-travelled route of the M5, M50, A40 – and the (now roundabout-free) Heads of the Valley Road, down to the M4 and onwards…
It was a relief to unload such a heavy item from the car boot. It takes two pairs of hands to lift and carry such a weighty item.
Donation to the West Wales Maritime Heritage Museum
The Captain had photographed the inside of the lid and from it discerned his father’s work history.
Several other family items of maritime interest were also donated.
Imperial Service Medal awarded for 25 years of continuous service to the Crown at the Royal Dockyard, Pembroke Dock
Deliveries done, now there was chance to have a look around the Museum.
What a superb finish there is on Heritage, the Tenby lugger.
How nostalgic it is to see old photos of the cross waterway ferry boats: the Alumchine, the Cleddau Queen and the Cleddau King.
Cleddau King departing from the Hobbs Point slipway
Look beyond this image of the Cleddau King and recall how the Cleddau Bridge collapsed during construction…(2nd June 1970)
Do you know the difference between a sea anchor and a drogue?
How many Royal Yachts were built at Pembroke Dock…?
Books! There’s an extensive library of maritime books…
“You coming tomorrow?” one of the museum volunteers asked. Tomorrow, by chance, was deemed to be a Big Day. The Museum was to be taking delivery of a donated lifeboat. While the weather would obviously be a factor in an outdoor event, far more important was the depth of water. This boat (Second Chance) had to be moved from her present temporary mooring to give way for the incoming lifeboat. Such a manoeuvre needed deckhands and shore crew, daylight - and a high tide…
Blue boat at the mooring intended for the lifeboat donation…
And on The Big Day a team of half a dozen loyal volunteers arrived at the yard at about 0730, started the engines of Second Chance* and rope-hauled her on the high tide from the mooring round into the tidal dock.
Along from Milford Haven Marina came the RNLI lifeboat Pentland, escorted along the waterway by the Angle lifeboat. What a sight it must have been to see two lifeboats arrive.
RNLI lifeboat Pentland at her new mooring
(See Facebook photos and video here: https://www.facebook.com/people/West-Wales-Maritime-Museum/100039104561778/?sk=photos&locale=en_GB
By late morning guests, Maritime Heritage supporters and curious locals were gathering on site.
There was bunting, there were sausages, bacon and burgers sizzling on a BBQ, there was coffee, there were Welsh cakes, there were musicians
– and in due course there were dignitaries. Apart from the mayors and the press there was an ‘Admiral Nelson’ character – and it was HE who was donating HIS lifeboat to the Maritime Trust.
Flag fans might have noticed the blue ensign aloft at the stern; the boat’s owner, one Rev Mike Brotherton, a former Royal Navy Chaplain, had been entitled to dress his boat with a blue ensign and the crown of King Edward VII; in a touching ceremony the blue ensign was lowered and, as the lifeboat changed ownership, the red ensign was raised.
It was a delightful occasion, a gathering on the shores of the Milford Haven in sunshine to welcome the newest addition to the museum’s fleet. And while the musicians gently strummed, champagne was served to the watching crowd.
This Museum is open to the public, from 1st February to 30th November, free of charge. There’s a lot to see - and it’s a good place to nibble on a snack or munch a picnic lunch while watching activity on the water.
As for water-watching – it looks as if the flood waters of this stream have scoured into the dunes while winter high tides have left debris high up on Freshwater East beach and at Stackpole Quay.
Spot the Irish ferry in port? Then photograph it… (Here she was, about to pull away from her mooring on 7th March
- and here she was (6th March) doing 18 knots, reaching the mouth of the Milford Avon, bound for Rosslare, (as seen from West Angle Bay).
There was a strange connection in the Maritime Museum with the Cleddau crew: several times this narrow boat has been passed, often moored along the Market Harborough Arm of the Leicester Line. Why name a boat Bartholomew Roberts…?
So Bartholomew Roberts was a Pembrokeshire-born pirate…!
As for nb Cleddau doing a Spring 2026 out and back Crick to Market Harborough cruise, time will tell: there’s just the small business of getting a current BSS exam first…
*Second Chance has been moored at the Museum before an onward journey to a new life with a religious group planning missionary work to the islands of Finland.
