The Gull Lightship
That big light you can see is from The Gull. Oldest lightship going - all made out of wood. Just a wreck now, in the mud, next door. When we lost her, they took the light away and got it renovated. Done all the glass, done all the actual light stuff. Put in that gentle glow.
The Gull's been up and down a few times. Got sunk, then raised, then recommissioned, then done away with. When you get old like these people, they know when it was built. And Fred over there, I tell you what, I think he built the Gull. I'm kidding!
We had it as a clubhouse for a bit. Being wood, it was leaking more than we could pump it out. It had metal going all the way around. Moisture soaked in under the paint, and then you got rusty water in there which marked your clothes. But we kept it going. In those days, most of us knew how to build or fix a boat, as well as how to sail it. Now it's 'get someone in' or 'buy a new one'.
Our Gull had a cabin, with bunk beds all around it. And then there was a cooking area. And the front half of the ship, the bow, was like a bar saloon. They were good years.
It's quieter now, but here we are. We're going out in a bit, on the river. It's a race day. I've packed my lunch and a bit to drink. We live alright.
From writing by people at Grays Yacht Club, and students of Thameside Primary School
The Gull's been up and down a few times. Got sunk, then raised, then recommissioned, then done away with. When you get old like these people, they know when it was built. And Fred over there, I tell you what, I think he built the Gull. I'm kidding!
We had it as a clubhouse for a bit. Being wood, it was leaking more than we could pump it out. It had metal going all the way around. Moisture soaked in under the paint, and then you got rusty water in there which marked your clothes. But we kept it going. In those days, most of us knew how to build or fix a boat, as well as how to sail it. Now it's 'get someone in' or 'buy a new one'.
Our Gull had a cabin, with bunk beds all around it. And then there was a cooking area. And the front half of the ship, the bow, was like a bar saloon. They were good years.
It's quieter now, but here we are. We're going out in a bit, on the river. It's a race day. I've packed my lunch and a bit to drink. We live alright.
From writing by people at Grays Yacht Club, and students of Thameside Primary School