A SHIP that saved hundreds of lives in the Second World War, sank twice, was rescued from a watery grave and made thousands of holidaymakers happy on Loch Lomond is to have a new purpose, and a new home near Glasgow.
Who remembers the Skylark IX?
Built as a pleasure boat in 1934, Skylark IX became one of the famous Dunkirk Little Ships in May 1940 when she served during Operation Dynamo, the mission to save 338,000 Allied soldiers from Dunkirk. (She is one of only two Operation Dynamo ships to survive today.)
The Skylark IX Recovery Trust announced ambitious plans this week, the 81st anniversary of Dunkirk, for a new £3m heritage experience and boatbuilding training centre in Dumbarton.
The Little Ship was rescued and is currently being restored, thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, by a specialist boatbuilding team working with people recovering from drug addiction and social isolation.
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The Spirit of Skylark Centre will sit in the grounds of the Scottish Maritime Museum (Denny Tank) on Castle Street.
Unveiling the plans, Mary Burch BEM, Chair of the Skylark IX Recovery Trust, said: “In her lifetime, Skylark has been battered by wartime service, storms and at least two sinkings.
“Although, following an in-depth condition survey and advice from marine surveyors and maritime heritage experts, we have had to sadly accept that she will never sail again, we have taken some of her indomitable spirit to go well beyond our original vision.”
Building work is expected to begin in 2025.
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