Massey Shaw - A Fireboat in London’s Maritime History

[@TheByard]

What a small world this is my father was a construction superintendent and employed a motor mechanic call Sam, my elder brother ran a repair garage and while talking to dad said he had a truck in for repair but his mechanic was sick. Dad gave him Sam's contact number after fixing the truck he and brother became friends. In 1995 I bought a Dunkirk Little Ship and I invited my brother to come along for a mini cruise on the Thames, he invited Sam who checked out the twin BMC 2.5 lt. engines aboard. Later he serviced the fuel pumps and system. So I invited them to come along on an ALDS return to Lime House Docks, The Massey Shaw was part of the return and over the week end Sam went on board and of course visited the engine room. Ran his hand down the engine turned to the ships mechanic and told him what's wrong with it, something he had been trying to trace but failed, in the coming weeks he kept in touch with Sam and with his help repaired the engine. My younger brother learnt the art of caulking while working on the Severn Wye cable tunnel. Each joint in the segmental lining had to be caulked with an asbestos, cement rope to seal the joints from salt water ingress. One day while walking around Glos. docks he came across Nealsons yard and wandered in, when challenged by Tommy the boss, brother asked if he could watch the caulker as he was one. Tommy was taken aback by this as he had to train all his caulkers, he gave brother a try out and said he could start work on Monday. But with the work commitment he had just exchanged phone numbers. The Massey Shaw also attended a Return to Chatham Dockyard and did a lap of honor blasting away with her fire fighting monitor. The spray from the lovely docks water did a super job of ruining all the other ADLS boat brass work, the crew of Blue Bird of Chelsea removed their bell and took it along to the Massey for a repolish. My boat Lazy Days just had the Dunkirk plaque to polish thankfully. Each five years the ADLS fleet RETURN to Dunkirk, the four inter years they visit as a RETURN to ports that also took part in the evacuation. I took part in three to Dunkirk two from Ramsgate and the 2000 crossing from Dover where we were inspected by Prince Philip escorted by the Honoury Admiral Raymond Baxter one of the founders of the ADLS. The fleet were again inspected in Dunkirk by Prince Charles, so a right royal week end.

[@ChrisWitts]

That is so interesting. I wasn't going to bother to send this film up, but having read your comments I am so glad I did.

[@ramseybarber8312]

Hi Chris Good to se she is still going strong , she had twin Gleniffer diesels one they managed to get going but the other was beyond repair this was a few years ago. Cheers