HMS BELFAST is a Town Class cruiser, commissioned in 1939, and decommissioned in 1963.
She has been a museum ship since 1971.
HMS BELFAST is berthed on the Thames River right near Tower Bridge.
BELFAST and its moorings have to deal with a
tide that is a good 15 feet. Imagine our having to deal with something like
that.
Two folks who were nice enough to give me their time were Andy Curran and Jim
Hutchinson. Andy Curran is the guy in charge of the volunteers and seeing that
they are suited to the work they're doing and that that work follows the
restoration/maintenance plan. Andy has met Rich Pekelney. Jim Hutchinson, who is
one of the Imperial War Museum's reps on board is in charge of volunteer
operations and getting and vetting the volunteers. He gave me samples of their
lit about their volunteers and what is given to volunteers.
For more information about the BELFAST, ALLIANCE and the Imperial War Museum,
check out the other threads on the BBS!
A port side view of HMS Belfast at her moorings on the Thames River in London.
A closer view of the port side.
Looking aft aboard Belfast.
Scaffolding on the ship during repairs and restoration.
Interested in volunteering aboard Belfast?
The folks on BELFAST, Andy Curran and Jim
Hutchinson were really helpful and informative on how they recruit, train and
organize their volunteers and restoration activities. They get some support as
part of the Imperial War Museum, but it's still a huge task.