|
After considerable speculation on the future of the Planet everything now seems to have gone very quiet. It is now moored in Canning Dock on the Strand wall but there does not seem to be any activity on board. This is probably due to the lack of electricity and water available. An article by Joe Riley in the Liverpool Echo said that as a result of the campaign to secure Planet’s future Gary McLarnan, the owner, was given 6 months, ‘stay of execution’ earlier in the summer by British Waterways, for her to stay in Canning Dock. Mr Riley has told the committee there are murmurings to the effect that if HMS Whimbrel, a former anti-submarine sloop, is rescued from her present berth in Egypt, then British Waterways, in principle, would like her to be berthed alongside Planet in Canning Dock. An option to secure Planet’s future might be to set up a Charitable Trust – a kind of ‘Friends of Planet’, though this is still to be debated by Mr McLarnan and the ‘powers that be’. Peter Elson, of the Daily Post, who has also been helping the campaign to keep Planet in Liverpool, said that Mr McLarnan, was ‘mindful to keep her in Liverpool’. So although we do not have any concrete evidence of what will finally happen the omens do not seem as daunting as they might have been in the recent past. Extraordinary General Meeting
Notice to All Members
However, as we do not own the vessel, we cannot now achieve the aims of the Society’s constitution which states that if the Society cannot achieve its aims and ceases to exist that funds be donated to a ‘like-minded’ charity.
Following meetings of the trustees and the Executive Committee it has been decided that the following resolution be put to the membership at an EGM.
“That the Mersey Lightvessel Preservation Society shall be dissolved in accordance with Section V of the Constitution at the end of the current financial year, 31st December 2007.
The assets of the Society, which at that time will have no book value, will be transferred to the Mersey Mission to Seafarers, who will provide safe custody of same, and make them available on request to MLPS.
Any funds remaining at that time shall be transferred to the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS), charity number 1014681, who will offer one year’s free membership of DAPS to MLPS members, if each individual member so desires. DAPS have agreed for a plaque to be placed on board the Daniel Adamson, acknowledging the contribution of MLPS.”
Notes: The Daniel Adamson is the last steam tug tender in the UK, built in 1903 by the Tranmere Bay Development Company. She is a unique steam powered passenger-carrying tug-tender, which is being restored to full passenger carrying operation for people to experience the sumptuous steam powered travel of the early 20th century. The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society has similar aims to MLPS. Their Society formed in 2004 and has raised over £150,000 in cash and kind and spent 26,000 hours working on the vessel, presently moored in Liverpool. She is due to be open to the public by 2009. Planet was the last manned light vessel and she also spent her working life on Merseyside and was the last manned lightvessel to serve the Mersey. If the resolution is carried, each member will be sent an application form to join the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society free for one year. It is up to each member to decide if they wish to forward that application to DAPS. For further information on DAPS see Daniel Adamson Preservation Society.
The EGM will be held at 10.30am at Hoylake Sailing Club on Saturday 24th November 2007.
