That’s the title of the film we’re making about Shieldhall. The point being, that without her volunteers (see above on a well-earned tea break from boiler cleaning, with MFUK’s Andy Jones filming them – we missed the round, dammit!) – without them, Shieldhall would soon cease to exist. Indeed, nearly did cease to exist: when she was declared surplus to requirements in July 1985, the eventual plan was to scrap her. It took the urgent intervention of far-sighted volunteers to save her – starting by raising £20,000 – but save her they did, and so here she is: Britain‘s largest steam-powered vessel still operating and afloat. In her cruising season she’s open to visitors, and this year she’ll have a special new look following her Heritage Lottery-funded restoration and upgrade. Come aboard for a trip if you’re in Southampton in the summer. It’s fun.
‘We Are Shieldhall’
12 February 2015
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About Rob
Rob is a TV producer, reporter and camera operator with 30 years’ experience at the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN, in news, factual and documentary production. He is a four times award winner, whose awards include a coveted Royal Television Society award for his work on Channel 4 News. His association with The Maritime Foundation goes back to 1995, when he won the first Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award for a series of reports that led to a major documentary on the loss of the bulk carrier Derbyshire.