nemaritimetrust.co.uk

In May 2018 the secretary of NEMT sent the Secretary of NFHT a letter of intent which promised that the latter would receive the balance from the sale of a flat in Jesmond:-

At the NEMT board meeting on 16th May 2018, the following resolution was passed:

“That NEMT would sell the upper flat and retain the lower flat for its sole use in the future. NEMT would make a donation to NFHT of the proceeds of the sale of the upper flat of an amount equal to the monies realised from the sale, less an amount to defray all costs of renovation of both flats up to the point of sale, including all professional, legal and estate agents’ fees, council tax, utilities, loan costs and interest etc.”

Six months later the Secretary of NEMT had changed the promise to a credit note, which suggested that NEMT had not received the funds from the solicitors to share out:-

Re: The Boathouse
Thank you for your letter of 22nd October in which you asked about the credit remaining on the payments NFHT have made in respect of your usage of the Boathouse.
Based on a weekly rate that our trustees have agreed for like-minded charitable organisations such as yourselves for occupying the slipway of £50 and of £100 being the cost of slipping a boat into and out of the Boathouse, the number of weeks that you have used the Boathouse for the renovations on ‘Peggy’ (49 weeks) and later on ‘Rachel Douglas’ (3 weeks) and two slipping fees, the position is as follows:
The charge for Peggy is calculated at £2,250 and
The charge for Rachel Douglas is calculated at £250.
If you intend to pay the full amount (of £12,000) as outlined in your initial proposal of April 2015, this would leave a remaining notional credit of some 184 weeks of Boathouse occupancy, less any costs associated with slipping fees, as above.

Unfortunately the author, Jerry Dudman, passed away in 2020 so why he presented the combined debt as an estimate of 184 weeks of occupancy is not known but having dealt with him for a good number of years I can say that he was not being unreasonable because its value works out at something between £10 and 15k.

It transpires that the share owed to NFHT from the sale of the flat turned out to be 14k and along with the residue of 12k which is believed to be about £4k leaves a total of 18k owed by NEMT to NFHT.

If we look at paper produced for the NEMT meeting of November 25th 2022, North East Maritime Trust – Notice of Proposals 1&2, the second proposal shows that they intend (write) off the debt to NFHT altogether.

Proposal 2 Our research indicates that credit which has been available to NFHT since its contribution to the boatshed in 2017 and further agreed at meeting in 2019 is to be reassessed. This credit has in fact been far surpassed by the amount of time used and work already carried out jointly by NEMT and its members’ volunteer labour to the benefit of NFHT. It is therefore intended to draw a line under any assumed credit available to NFHT. Any objection to these proposals should be made in writing no later than 7th January 2023.
Alec Renwick. Chairperson

This is a written objection and whether one calls the arbitrary cancellation of a debt embezzlement, misappropriation or theft, it is still a criminal offence.

M Dawson
6th January 2023

2011

Mick,
Thanks for your reply and explan’t’n which sounds like it makes sense to continue with Daily. Unfortunately I’m not in a position to help at the moment due to work commitments, which has also led to my recent lack of contact with NEMT.
Keep up the good work.
Alec

I hear nothing more from Alec Renwick until Septenber 2018, when in response to a notice that one of the Trustees of the Northumbrian Fisheries Heritage Trusts’ phone is no longer working when he writes; Will do, thanks for letting me know. Alec

Towards the end of 2019 I recieve the last comminication from the then Chair of NEMT, 2nd /3rd December: Mick, Not me! Paul N perhaps – Jerry

Date	Email or Document
2020	~
31-Mar	Notice of the death of the Chairman of NEMT
23-May	Notice to renew nemaritimetrust.co.uk by writing to
31-Aug	Please find the September Newsletter – attached for your perusal
2-Nov	Seven weeks later, we hear from the Chair of NEMT, Mr A Renwick

There was no notice in the Mr Renwick’s Newsletter of any meeting to elect a new Chair for NEMT and it appears that he was being rather presumptive when he signed himself as the chairman. When he sends out the Secretary’s letter about his decision to leave the AGM to 2021 he no longer signs as the Chair of NEMT.

Date	Email or Document
12-Nov	Sharing the administration of nemaritimetrust.co.uk with Mr A Renwick
20-Dec	Subject: NEMT, AGM Information. Dear Member, please find the following notice attached for your information. We wish you a happy, healthy Christmas and New Year. Alec Renwick

It soon became clear that Alec Renwick had wasted no time in deleting most of the references to the Northumbrian Fisheries Heritage Trust when he gained contol of the website and his actions since then have shown that they were not an accidental removal.

From: Alec Renwick
Sent: 15 November 2020 13:40
To: Michael Dawson
Cc: Paul Nicholson; David Parker; Alex Finnegan; Guy Linkleter; Sue Griffiths; Peter W
Subject: Re: Golden Gleam Face Book!

Many thanks Mick,

This Facebook post is a typical example of todays social media frenzy, which can be so damaging if not acted upon.
I call them “keyboard warriors” who mostly either don’t have a clue or just want to cause trouble from the safety of a screen.
As you know, we’ve had some of that at NEMT!

Pleased it’s now sorted out.

Alec

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On Sun, 15 Nov 2020, 12:26 Michael Dawson, wrote:

Hi all.

I picked this up last night and made a couple of comments on the post before alerting Peter about the mischief and I notice they have now been deleted.

The first was against Graham Abbey’s:-

“Trust is not a I would give them say they do things but just after your donations, A BIG BIG SHAME on them if you cannot look after this let someone who can save it do so it won’t last left like this SHAME ON THIS TRUST” , telling him to get his facts right before making a post and the second was a sort of apology to Mr Abbey by pinning the blame on Colin Warwick:-

“I felt that I should share these photos which are at the opposite end of the spectrum of what I would normally post. The Coble in the photos is listed as belonging to a Charitable Trust whose main emphasis is on the care, maintenance and restoration of wooden vessels. Obviously as you can see this is not the case with this Coble.”

Basically I told them to get their facts right before they started flinging the mud around. Its hard enough trying to raise funds without this sort of thing being pinned on us.

Peter, I thought your reply was rather diplomatic and I think Mr Warwick and Mr Abbey owe you and NFHT an apology.
We can always blame them if we have to fold because of lank of funds and then they can be blamed for more boats being left to rot.

Stay safe everyone,
Cheers Mick.

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From: Alec Renwick
Sent: 15 November 2020 10:59
To: Paul Nicholson
Cc: David Parker; Alex Finnegan; Guy Linkleter; Mike Dawson; Sue Griffiths; Peter W
Subject: Re: Golden Gleam Face Book!

Well said Paul and Dave,

I have replied to Peter’s excellent response by making a comment on Facebook, so hope this helps.
Just goes to show how these things can get out of hand if not dealt with immediately.

Many thanks
Alec

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From: Peter Weightman
Sent: 15 November 2020 10:15
To: Paul Nicholson; David Parker

Cc: Alec Renwick; Alex Finnegan; Guy Linkleter; Mike Dawson; Sue Griffiths
Subject: Re: Golden Gleam Face Book!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I’m a bit tardy on this one.
This Facebook nonsense is sickening.
I’ve just joined the group and given my comments.

All the best,

Peter

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On Sun, 15 Nov 2020, 09:26 Paul Nicholson, wrote:

I agree with DP’s timely heartfelt comment that the uninformed facebook entry is hardly objective, yet could be damaging. We should note that NEMT cannot be held to be the target of the complaint. The extract showing a National Maritime Museum Cornwall entry is for Northumbrian Fishing Heritage Trust and Peter could further enlighten us by confirming the actual owner of Golden Gleam.

She is certainly in need of restoration but claim of abandonment by Colin Warwick is hardly true even though only sporadic visits are made by PW to clear weeds, spread salt and ensure the covers are in place. I attended with Peter so can confirm this. Annual rent is paid to the landowner, which would hardly be the case were she to have been thrown on the scrapheap. It has to be said that the trailer on which she sits is beyond repair.

Nevertheless, the point has been made and perhaps an early visit could be arranged as soon as we are allowed a real life again, to ensure that the area in which Golden Gleam stands is clear and that she is covered correctly until the moment we are able to attend to her restoration.

Paul

On Sun, 15 Nov 2020 at 07:19, David Parker <dave.a.parker@talktalk.net> wrote:

Good Morning Folks,

I am genuinely very upset to read the post from Colin Warwick on face book with respect to Golden Gleam.

Over many years now, we have developed an exceptionally good reputation in showing our devotion towards our prime aims of preservation of historic vessels; all listed on the National Historic Ships Register.

This kind of publicity is very damaging indeed. WE know who are members of the CKB , those who are genuine and those who just want to cause trouble .

I think its about time that an explanation of the current status of the Golden Gleam, was made perfectly clear and that very good intentions were formulated and made known, showing that She has not been “abandoned” as mentioned, and in fact, cared for as time permits.

Others see it differently !! even to the point where aerial photographs have been posted to identify her location!!

There should now urgently, be a counter publication prepared in detail to preserve, not only the vessel but more importantly, our reputation !!! A reputation that cant be fixed with putty and paint!!!

We have some very fine vessels between us………….but “your’e only as good as your last job”

Dave.