A chance to see behind the scenes at the Portsmouth project
A
63-year-old junk-rigged yacht being restored in Portsmouth is to be opened to the public next month.
Boleh
is the story of two men: artist and naval war hero Commander Robin Kilroy, DSC,
who designed and built her 60 years ago in Singapore before sailing her back
15,000 miles to the UK; and Roger Angel, joiner and entrepreneur, who found her
an insurance write-off in 1978 and painstakingly brought her back to life in a
Rye harbour mud berth.
She
is to provide training for young people facing challenges in their lives.
‘Boleh’ means ‘can do’ in Malay and it is this philosophy which drives the
project.
The
free-entry workshop will be open from 1pm to 4.30pm on Sunday 27 October and all are welcome.
This
is a rare chance to see the restoration, as it is happening, talk to the project’s trustees, shipwrights and apprentices about their experiences and to meet two
of the nephews of Robin Kilroy, Boleh’s designer and creator.
There will also
be a gallery of Robin Kilroy’s artwork and Southsea Choir will be singing sea
shanties throughout the afternoon.
Activities
for young visitors will include model boat racing and knot tying.
Katy
Hutchinson, Boleh Project Coordinator
said: ‘This Heritage Lottery Funded
project has allowed us to recruit four apprentices from Highbury College and
given them the opportunity to learn traditional boat building skills through
the restoration of Boleh.’
Visit
The Old Pump House, 199 Henderson Road, Eastney, Portsmouth PO4 9JF.
Picture: Boleh at work in the 1950s.