Knowing that many TNFrs have interests in other forms of motive power, I thought I would highlight the current crisis prevailing that the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire.
The museum has been the home of the two surviving SRN4s The Princess Margaret and The Princess Anne since they came out of service in 2000. Both powered are by Bristol Proteus engines of course (similar to the units in the Bristol Britannia, Bluebird CN7, and the Brave Class patrol boats of the Royal Navy. .The two hovercraft were bought out of service by Wensley Haydon-Baillie and he had also previously acquired the two RN Brave Class vessels as well. I was not aware that the Hovercraft Museum Trust did not actually own them but it appears it is a government body - the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) - that wants to develop new homes on the site. The Trust has launched an on-line petition to try to delay action and/or change the developer's mind and it looks as if they are trying to save one (Princess Anne) at least.
The two surviving SRN4 hovercraft are central to the Museum's presentation of the Hovercraft story which has its origins in nearby Hythe. Whilst it would be essential to retain at least one - and even that is uncertain - to keep both would add significantly to the museum's visitor appeal if the additional costs can be funded. The one that is likely to be broken up is The Princess Margaret which was the first to enter service (and even appeared in the James Bond Film "Diamonds Are Forever". The two craft, having been in private ownership, means that it is possible that the HCA as developers are likely to have been owed funds for storage and it is this that has resulted in the sudden and disturbing developments in the past few days. Saving examples of technology is often viewed as being secondary in this country to saving the odd Titian for the nation (the government spent some £90Million on two of those a couple of years ago). It is often left to individuals and impoverished museums to do what they can. I would suggest, however, that the Museum needs to refresh its website urgently to not only further highlight its present plight but to raise funds for further development that would secure the preservation of one (or both) SRN4. Hopefully, a compromise and ultimately successful outcome will ensue.
The BBC has produced this news story yesterday: http://www.bbc.co.uk...pshire-35445419
Hovercraft Museum website: http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/
The museum's own website caries the story also but it's a bit difficult understanding how long they've got but, hopefully, it will have some sort of sensible outcome.
Edited by Pullman99, 31 January 2016 - 12:41.
