Phil in Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Our well known local classic boat restorer, Phil Clabburn, is once again hard at work having been commissioned to restore a Seaplane Tender 441, and a RAF WWII rescue boat for private clients.

Having heard of the restoration of such a rare vessel, the RAF have entered the boat into the Queens Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant where she will be one of the first escorting the Queens barge on 3rd June 2012.

Currently resting on the boats owners tennis court under a poly tunnel, Phil is now working 'against the clock' to get her re-engineered and in full working order for her big day, where he will be alongside the owners driving her up the Thames.

He hopes to bring 441 to Hythe for sea trials in early May so you may see her speeding around The Solent.

At high water in the afternoon of Sunday 3 June 2012, up to a thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.  It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river.  Rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Flags, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs.  The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.

Phil previously restored boat HSL 102 (now owned by Portsmouth Dockyard), which will also be in the Pageant on the day.

http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/