The Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark was once the most famous of the great tea clippers. In the 1870s she sped across the high seas bringing the new tea crop from China.

In 1953, rescued from obscurity by her admirers, she was placed in dry dock in Greenwich. There she serves as a unique example of breathtaking ship design, and as a symbol of Britain’s proud maritime heritage. She also became the memorial to the Merchant Navy, and its losses in two world wars.

Now, the same timbers that were once pounded by the storms of the Cape Horn are once more under threat. Years of exposure to the elements have taken their toll. Her wooden hull is waterlogged and rotting. The iron frame that supports them is rusting, and if the process is not reversed, it is estimated the ship will have to be closed as a dangerous structure in 2007.

The Cutty Sark Trust aims to ensure the ship’s survival into the next century by launching an ambitious restoration project. The project will take two and a half years, and cost £25 million. But to save the Cutty Sark the Trust needs your help. Visit the Cutty Sark website to find out more about the ship’s history, and how you can donate to the project to save her.

Vulcan to the Sky

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust has successfully purchased an Avro Vulcan XH558 and is all set to begin restoration of this last iconic representative of the Cold War period.

The Vulcan, Victor and Valiant were the mainstay of Britain’s Cold War defence policy for over 30 years. Under the professional guidance of Dr Robert Pleming, Felicity Irwin and the Vulcan to the Sky team, Vulcan XH558 has received a £2.73m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the aircraft to flight and deliver the Cold War history to the widest possible audience.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest fundraising events, and to find out how you can get involved in this restoration project, visit the Vulcan to the Sky Trust website.