Dunkirk Little Ship - "Challenge"

The aptly named Challenge was the last steam tug to serve on the Thames and was based on the river all her working life. At the time of Dunkirk she was naturally called to help in Operation Dynamo, towing some of the Little Ships across the Channel to save fuel and herself rescuing some of the 385 000 troops from the advancing German army. By 1993 she had deteriorated badly and would have been scrapped but for the intervention of the Trust. Thanks to the generosity of Sun Tugs, whose name earned great distinction at Dunkirk, and the Port of Tilbury, Challenge was moved to Tilbury Docks where a team of volunteers led by Ian MacDougal has put in more than a thousand man- and woman-hours to restore her. The volunteers include a team of Duke of Edinburgh's Award qualifiers, meeting the second objective of the Trust, which is to promote the skills necessary for re-building and preserving old craft. Everyone concerned felt the thrill of hearing the steam boilers of Challenge turning her engines once more. Now it is planned for her to become a living memorial to the age of steam and the history of Dunkirk, a suitable site is currently being sort for her.

To find out more go to:
http://www.dlsrt.org.uk/index.htm

The aims of the Trust are:-
First, to acquire Dunkirk Little Ships in danger
of destruction and remove them to a place of safety.

Second, to encourage the boatbuilding and conservation skills
necessary to restore the Little Ships to a high
standard with a view to ensuring their continued useful life.

THE DUNKIRK LITTLE SHIPS RESTORATION TRUST
Registered Charity Number 1021088