Herald - Issue 408

Page 22 • The HERALD • 24th June 2021 v SEND ALL YOUR LOCAL NEWS TO THE HERALD v dirty oven...? Andy Neal, 41 Sea Road, Barton on Sea Head Office: 67 Barkham Ride, Wokingham, Berks RG40 4HA Free: 0800 140 9800 or Mobile: 07712 567691 www.ovenu.co.uk don’t worry... help is at hand From Ovenu®, the UK’s leading oven valeting company! Our franchised technicians remove grease, fat and burnt on carbon deposits in around three hours to an amazing standard... guaranteed. Our caustic free system offers a safe alternative to conventional methods. Hundreds of delighted clients every week use Ovenu... why not call today for a free quotation. We also clean hobs, hoods and microwaves to the same standards. • J ewellers • W atchmakers J. COLLINS & SON Proudly Serving the Waterside since 1972 10 Marsh Parade, Hythe, Southampton, Hants Tel: (023) 8084 3074 WE ARE KEEN TO BUY ALL SECONDHAND JEWELLERY, SCRAP GOLD Stockists of large range of gold, silver and gem set jewellery M ain A gents for C itizen , R otary , P ulsar , L orus W atches and S eiko C locks Kit Heath & Hot Diamond Silver Jewellery Stockists Secondhand Jewellery for Sale Our Professional Services include Jewellery & Watch Repairs, Re-Stringing, Ear Piercing Professional Local Qualified Carpenter Est: 2003 H P roperty M aintenance H K itchen /B athroom /B edroom F itting H B uilt - in W ardrobes /C upboards H D oor H anging H D ecking H L aminate F looring H B each H ut R epairs H W all & F loor T iling 3 Morris Close, Hythe SO45 5UX Fully Insured Call for a Free Estimate Today Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH 99 Years old Hythe Pier Railway Carriage Back on Track e Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) put restored Carriage number 4 back on the track running along Hythe Pier during a brief ceremony on Saturday 29th May. In conjunction with the Shed (at the Pier) and support from Blue Funnel Ferries engineers, HPHA have been restoring the 99 years old railway carriage since July 2020, progress interrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns. e carriage is the rst of two ordered in October 1921 by the owners of Hythe Pier for a railway to be installed onto Hythe Pier. e rst of the carriages was dispatched from the constructor on 26th May 1922, arriving a couple of days later, perhaps, although it is not certain, 99 years to the day prior to the Back on Track ceremony. e second, Carriage number 1, which arrived a month later has been withdrawn from service for the next restoration project. Carriage number 4 was gi ed to HPHA by Blue Funnel Ferries and is leased back to the ferry and pier operator for use on the Hythe Pier Railway. e restoration included new side frames, built using Iroko hardwood, with marine grade plywood panelling. New safety glass and period electric lighting units have been installed but the seating was in such good condition, re-staining was all that was required. Careful consideration was given before selecting Moss Green to match the colour of the livery of the early days. Another throw-back to earlier times is the reintroduction of HPR signage. Funding for the project came from a sizable grant from the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation and from the local community through events and donations. In addition to the putting the carriage back on track, HPHA held a naming ceremony for locomotive 16307. e 104 years old tractor unit was named “Gerald Yorke” by Nigel Hasted and Sara Richardson, grandchildren of Gerald Yorke, who was the consultant engineer for the Hythe Pier Railway project. funding received and the skills of numerous volunteers and community. Particular thanks go to all the men and women of The Shed at The Pier dedicating their time and enthusiasm in rebuilding this 99 years old carriage. Their skills of carpentry, joinery and painting are for all to see, highlighted by our acknowledged authority on all aspects of narrow gauge railways in the UK and Worldwide, Alan Keef Limited who has commented “ I congratulate you all on a very fine job, Carriage No.4 is now far better shape than it has been for many, many years! I have no hesitation in approving the work you have done, and ‘signing-off’ the carriage to re-enter service.” Another project undergone was that of the tractor unit, which certainly needed some TLC! Engineers in the Blue Funnel Workshop have reproduced sections of the metalwork and renewing the mechanics, along with the team at The Shed making new luggage racks, compartment boxing and a new coat of paint. We will be continuing future projects with both the railway and the Pier, exciting times ahead!” Alan Titheridge, Ferry Historian and Author commented: “There isn’t a person in or from Hythe who has known a time the Hythe Pier Railway wasn’t here. It is heartening to know that on account of the dedication of the Hythe Pier Heritage Association and the quality workmanship put into this project, that the same will be so for many generations to come”. Alan Titheridge, who has written books about the Hythe Pier and Ferry, has a new book about the Hythe Pier Railway to be published, hopefully this summer. Anthony Smith, Chairman, Hythe Pier Heritage Association adds: “The restoration of Carriage 4 has been a year long labour of love for the members of The Shed, Tina and team as well as the engineers from Blue Funnel Ferries. We have also got to remember that 90 children from Hythe Primary School were involved in a project to save this carriage from further deterioration by writing to the Beaulieu Beaufort trustees”. Just over £452 was raised on the day frommerchandise sales and bucket collections together with a generous donation from Gerald Yorke’s family of £500 brought the total to an amazing £952. As with the carriage, Blue Funnel Ferries have gi ed the tractor to HPHA, which a er restoration work in conjunction with the Shed (at the Pier) and Blue Funnel engineers, HPHA have leased back to the ferry operator, with its Gerald Yorke nameplate a xed. Tina Brown, Project Manager said: “We are thrilled to bring one carriage back on track after the first refurbishment project, made possible from Nigel Hasted and restored locomotive 16407