Barrelmans Point - Restoration Progress of HMS Ganges Mast

[@judynpeterjones3307]

Well done guys, I was there in '63 as a 15 year old boy entrant! I'm 76 now and planning to return for a visit to the site and museum very soon!

[@stevedoubleu99B]

Brilliant job. It is truly wonderful that the mast will live on.😊

[@johnmcallan3980]

Wonderful to see. Ex-Grenville Division 1951. Up the mast, over the Devils elbow, up to the top of the Jacobs Ladder. That's as far as I ever got.

[@MelanieJolie]

Fantastic news!! Dad was based at HMS Ganges from 1964 to 1971 and I had a very happy childhood in Shotley Gate. The mast is iconic and hearing it is being restored by such a talented group of sailors brought tears to my eyes 🥹🥲so many wonderful memories, thank you ❤

[@HeidiLandRover]

I visited the site a couple of years ago and was surprised to see the dilapidated condition of the mast and the whole site buried under brambles. Things like this deserve to be preserved. BZ!

[@stormtossedsailor7961]

Glorious news, joined Ganges in 65 and sat on the button twice (with beating heart) shall definitely be making a trip once it’s finished.

[@annetteboyle7518]

Brilliant very Good news ,thank you for preserving the mast for generations to come and for the men of the past .My husband was a Ganges boy in the early seventies talked about Ganges ,he never forgot about the mast ,and he would be very happy of its renewal . unfortunately he passed away in 2019 may he rest in peace

[@andywilliams2237]

The mast has now been restored and replaced - great to see the return of such an iconic landmark - and hats off to Wavensmere for prioritising its restoration. It is a fitting monument to the 160,000 Boys who trained at HMS Ganges and served in the Royal Navy. There is a museum at Shotley Gate dedicated the history of the establishment - details can be found online.

[@lesdobson4904]

Good to see the mast is in great hands who have some "skin" in the game. Really looking forward to seeing it in all its splendour again. (Joined May 1966)

[@RoyClare]

I joined April 1966 - which Division were you, Les?

[@lesdobson4904]

@@RoyClare Drake 37 mess 84 recruitment

[@RoyClare]

@@lesdobson4904 Duncan 9 Mess, 83 Recruitment. Guess that makes you a nozzer, right? 🤣

[@lesdobson4904]

@@RoyClare I'll take that in the spirit it was given!

[@InArcadiaSum]

I'm pleased to know that something of HMS Ganges is being preserved. The sight of the cadets on the yards, and the "button boy", was something else, and continued the tradition of "Iron Men in Wooden Ships".

[@andywilliams2237]

They were not cadets..... they were under naval discipline with the rank of Boy whilst under training.

[@mikestrohm3271]

Brilliant, such memories, I managed to get to the crosstree below the button in 74 but we weren't allowed to go any higher. Remember the drill shed very well, on the left hand wall as you stood inside facing out was Kiplings 'If' beautifully painted onto a big board screwed to the wall.

[@billvince1928]

Love it & congratrulations to all involved

[@tedschofield269]

Great news I was there in 1965/1966 Benbow 28 mess

[@mauricebean5239]

Absolutely fantastic news. I was at Ganges 72-73 Frobisher 53 Class, 11 Mess Long Covered Way. I had the chance to pop into the old place when passing in 2000. So sad to see the state it was in then and the mast looked very poorly indeed.

[@robjordan8464]

finally reached the button in 73......wasn't rotten then :)

[@RoyClare]

Good to see this. My 34 years in the RN started in Ganges. I climbed the mast many times while under training there, 1966/67, but no further than the topgallant trestle tree. Button wasn't for me!!

[@bahoonies]

@Roy Clare I've watched old videos here of boys climbing that mast and all I can say is you must have been a very brave lot. I read that RN ship's were always happy to get boys who'd been to HMS Ganges because they knew they were well-trained. Some years ago I chatted on Facebook with an old gentleman whose older brother was sadly lost on HMS Hood. He had been button boy at HMS Ganges. I can't remember his name unfortunately though I think his Christian name was Kenneth. Hats off to all Ganges boys. I think you're a remarkable and very courageous breed.

[@billdennis3681]

Fantastic good on you guys.

[@philiprowe7452]

Brilliant news. Always the symbol of HMS Ganges, only ever climbed up to the half moon.

[@longhunter1951]

Wonderful news, climbed it a number of times in 66/67, Benbow 27 mess 88 recruitment.

[@alangraham5843]

Great to see it finally being refurbished. Was at Ganges in 1956, Hawke 47. Would like to point out that there is no "the" in front of HMS Ganges.

[@wavensmerehomes6991]

Thanks for pointing this out Alan, we have amended the title.

[@mikestrohm3271]

@@wavensmerehomes6991 Yes, its a massive bugbear for ex matelots seeing that 'the'.

[@clivecrisell257]

Bravo!

[@geraldfox7676]

Brilliant news! What a shame it got left so long.

[@andywilliams2237]

As there was never any official help to maintain the site or the mast, it had to wait until a developer was prepared to pay the huge cost of repairs. Hats off to Wavensmere for prioritising such an iconic structure.

[@geraldfox7676]

@andywilliams2237 be sure to thank them from us "Old Boys"!

[@andywilliams2237]

@@geraldfox7676 As this video was posted by Wavensmere, I assume that they can read the thanks given. We have just put a picture of the newly restored mast in the HMS Ganges Museum (which is easier to study than the real thing at the moment). The work and craftmanship is to be admired and I also understand that there will be a maintenance schedule, so that the mast remains in good condition going forward. If the same care and attention is paid to those buildings being retained and the historic monuments on site, then it will be a good outcome after so many years of neglect.

[@davidparsons1123]

Great news, i thought it would never happen. 30 mess 63

[@8ballphil150]

made up to see something is being done with the mast . i trained here winter 72 / 73 . frobisher 21 mess .

[@derekdavis867]

Bravo Zulu

[@nemosis9449]

My dad was a button boy in 1938.

[@iaincaveney7162]

My old man joined Ganges in 1941, being transferred from Royal King Edward school as they wanted to use the school for a different purpose

[@QOMY82]

The button wasnt rotten when it was shown on ble peter.

[@chrisduckett5496]

The first "tradesman" we see is using a ball pein metal working hammer with a wood chisel!!! How can we have high quality restoration with such low quality workers?

[@Cxwl9]

Brilliant tthat is 🇬🇧