HMS Whimbrel...........the latest saviour of Hartlepool

[mk1]

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/second-world-war-royal-navy-ship-could-come-to-hartlepool-maritime-experience-1-7914504


Just one problem. The ship is in Egypt and that is because it belongs to the Egyptian Navy. .



Last I heard they wanted £1 million for it.
Liverpool tried to buy it about 3 years back and  it couldn't get the money.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/10897353/HMS-Whimbrel-one-week-to-save-last-Battle-of-the-Atlantic-escort.html

Is it possible our Council is going to stump up the money?

[Land Phil]

Looks like it could be the next ghost ship for Peter's dismantling crew.

[Alnwickist]

Grounded by bull before it was even signed over. Ah what a Vision.

[The Great Dictator]

The navy are paying for it.

[Land Phil]

How long before it would be covered in rust ?

[steveL]

If the Navy are running the show then I imagine it would be fine but if they let HBC anywhere near it....well just look at the Wingfield Castle

[mk1]

The navy are paying for it.

But is it a dream or an actual attempt to purchase? The ship has been the object of several schemes to raise the money and all have failed. I suppose when all else fails why not get them idiots in 'artlepool to pay.

[The Great Dictator]

The navy are taking over the whole quay.

[mk1]

The navy are taking over the whole quay.

Can we look forward to the 'bandits' giving an impromptu rendition of 'In The Navy' on opening day?

[tankerville]

They could always put it in the big tin shed.

[mk1]

On reflection they could perform  Whimbrel..........Whimbrel.........Whimbrel.......in the jungle the mighty jungle........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WScEJKNMdgI


Imagine 2 bellies SAB in the white vest and Mad Dog and Gill in the leotards...............

[Inspector Knacker]

If the Navy's in charge I have no problem.
However, how's it going to fit ?

[not4me]

You're all getting ahead of yourselves and falling for the spin. HBC likes to talk of what could be........

[Stephen T]

More than 2m to wide for the lock gates is my worry.

[Hubris]

If it's a true possibility that the rusting hulk from Egypt might come to Hartlepool, and it's not just the standard HBC BS*** and PR flannel, and it's not going to cost the town an arm and a leg, then surely it's very positive.
Like the Warrior all those years ago, it's refurb will create much needed jobs, it will generate a sure-fire visitor attraction and it will put Hartlepool on the map for something different from the usual
(BTW, ask ANYONE not from the town what they know or have heard about Hartlepool, which I do a lot.... and you get the full litany of:- "Hartlepool! Isn't that the place where you have........" then take your pick from what might be the one thing that comes to their mind ......Monkey Mayor, teenage murderers, pathetic canoe-man suicide fiasco, tax-dodging land-fill Cowboys, Mandy's safe seat shoe-in, drug dealers, machete revenge attacks, feckless pram-filler's paradise, no hospital etc etc ad nauseum)
It's sad to think that the usual answer to the question "Can you name the best thing to come out of Hartlepool?" and they say "Easy, it's the A689!"

Back to the boat. Great if it happens!

And if it really is 2 mtrs too wide, for sure any one of rmw's developer pals will have a crane big enough to hoist it over the dock gates (for a very reasonable price, plus a just as reasonable 'arrangers' fee for the negotiator)