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Historical
Diving Society
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News Release – 2nd June 2008 Historical Divers return to Weymouth for Seafood Festival The Dorset Seafood Festival will see the return of the Historical Diving Society (HDS) to Weymouth Harbour. The HDS was formed in 1990 and the association’s first ever historical diving rally took place on Custom House Quay in 1992. That year enthusiasts from all over the country gathered outside the town’s Deep Sea Adventure (now Sharky’s) and put on a fascinating display using the copper helmets and heavy suits made by the British companies Siebe Gorman and Heinke with kit first designed in the 19th Century. 16 years after the first rally and the HDS has grown with associated organisations in over 15 countries across the world. The Association’s working equipment group of the HDS will be setting up aboard the Weymouth based diving vessel ‘Lamlash’ owned by local skipper Grahame Knot. Diving will start on Saturday 12th at around 10.30 and take place during both days of the festival. HDS team leader Gary Wallace-Potter said "it is great to be coming back to Weymouth after all these years, the guys are really looking forward to putting on a show for the crowds coming to the festival and enjoying some of that famous Weymouth hospitality! It is also really exciting to be able to dive from a vessel like the ‘Lamlash’, which has carried out such advanced work deep diving on wrecks in the English Channel using the latest re-breathers, the very opposite to our kit!". Over the weekend of the 12th & 13th July the area around Waterfront Weymouth will be transformed into a Seafood Village. Many different species of fish and shellfish will be landed straight from the boats, prepared and cooked in the open, before being available to festival visitors. Family orientated, the festival will also entertain its visitors with live music, cooking demonstrations, displays and cookery competitions throughout the day. The festival is a part of the ‘Spirit of the Sea’ Maritime Festival which takes place between the 5th and 13th July. For more information go to www.dorsetseafood.co.uk. |
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Ex RMAS Lamlash Lamlash was laid down in 1973 and spent most of her
working life at Rosyth and Portsmouth acting as a passenger carrying
Fleet Tender. In 2001 her career serving the ships of the Royal
Navy came to an end. She did not spend long on the disposal list
and was soon on her way to Penryn North Wales as a dive charter
boat. Due to various technical problems and a change of plans by
her owner, a long lay up ensued and her new life was over before
it had started. In 2006 after not having moved for several years,
she was chartered by a bounty hunter. His intention was to salvage
a wreck in the English Channel carrying copper. Unbelievably after
years of neglect and no maintenance Lamlash made the journey from
North Wales around Lands End and up the Channel to Shoreham. On
arrival she cried ‘enough’ and once again it was over before it
had begun. Relations between the owner and the salvage company broke
down and Lamlash was abandoned in Shoreham running up thousands
of pounds in mooring dues. Weymouth dive boat operator Grahame Knott
had shown an interest in Lamlash before her disastrous charter and
missed the chance to purchase the vessel because of it. What a surprise
when in October 2006 the distraught owner called Grahame, who had
worked extensively with Fleet Tenders previously, asking for help
to get Lamlash up and running and away from Shoreham. A very sorry
sight awaited the rescue team from Weymouth. Lamlash, from being
one of the best found vessels in the RMAS, had deteriorated into
a rusting hulk. Weymouth Diving 07966 242460 |
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