Author: Paul Gibson

Our new book, aimed mainly at 10 + year olds tells the story of LV50 through the eyes on a young crew member. From first setting foot on the boat to a very different ending.

Once again Emma Whitehall has written us a superb book we’re very proud of, this time aimed at Young Adult readers. I hope you all enjoy as much as I did.

You can get your copy from The Project Space in the Keel Row Blyth, The Bounds Bookshop in Whitley Bay or from the Friends directly. Why not come along to one of our open days on the last Thursday between April and September (11:00-16:00) to get a copy. If none of these work for you email us on friendsoflv50@gmail.com and we’ll see how we can help you.

Our next book, aimed mainly at 10+ year olds tells the story of LV50 through the eyes on a young crew member. From first setting foot on the boat to a very different ending.

Once again Emma Whitehall has written us a superb book we’re very proud of, this time aimed at Young Adult readers. We hope you all enjoy as much as I did.

We’ll let you know where to get a copy. It’ll be soon as it’s with the printer now.

On the 21st of July 2022 Year 4 of New Delaval Primary School visited LV50 as part of an educational outing to the Port of Blyth. Amongst them was the 3000th visitor* organised by the Friends of LV50. We can’t tell who it was, so we invited their teacher, Mrs Watson, to accept the certificate on behalf of everyone.

LV50 has been the house yacht of the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club since 1952 when they rescued her from being broken up and bought her to Blyth to be their headquarters. She was launched in 1879 as a light vessel serving with Trinity House, lighting the waters off England to save the lives of distressed mariners. She is one of the oldest wooden ships still afloat and is part of the National Historic Fleet.

The Friends of LV50 are a volunteer community group who aim to promote and encourage an understanding and interest of the public in LV50. They do this through open days, school visits (in association with the Port of Blyth), group visits and talks in the wider community.

*This figure includes open days, school and group visits as well as talks.

Friends of LV50 have won the National Historic Ships UK ‘Virtual Flagship of the Year Award’ in recognition of their creativity and resilience in promoting continued online engagement with the LV50 vessel during the COVID-19 lockdown by creating a virtual tour of the ship.

Prior to winning the grant that allowed them to develop the virtual tour for which the award was given, Friends of LV50 received support and advice from our development officer, Marc Johnson on governance and funding, and attended our very popular funding fairs, which allowed them to develop their winning funding strategy. Secretary of the group, Paul Gibson said, “We have always been happy to rely on our CVA for guidelines on good governance and your help is much appreciated to enable us to better run our group.”

Northumberland CVA Newsletter 24/6/2021 Spotlight on…

An innovative project making a local historic ship accessible online, has won a significant national award thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation.

Friends of LV50 received a grant from the EDF Energy Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, to develop their virtual tour of the ship and making it suitable as an educational resource, so that it could be explored and enjoyed virtually by young people during the pandemic. In recognition of their achievement, Friends of LV50 received the National Historic Ships UK ‘Virtual Flagship of the Year Award’.

Read more HERE.