THE LIVERPOOL NAUTICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY

1938 – THE SOCIETY IS FOUNDED:  

From the April 1938 edition of ‘Sea Breezes’:

“Only a few months ago an article appeared in Sea Breezes entitled ‘Preserving a Great Maritime Epoch’. This article contained suggestions for setting down for all time records and facts surrounding ships and seamen of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

“The response was not long delayed, for one immediate effect of that article was to bring men with kindred interests into close association, and in Liverpool they formed themselves into a Marine Research Society to be known as The Liverpool Nautical Research Society.

“A subscription of five shillings makes it open to anyone interested in the sea, and the lists already show how popular the Society is likely to become. The Society proposes to read a paper once a quarter or more frequently. The first paper will be given on the earliest Liverpool shipping records and will be delivered at the School of Commerce in Tithebarn Street at 7.30pm on 9^th May 1938.

“It is hoped that Liverpool’s venture will be followed by other shipping ports around the coast. The value of such research work cannot be overestimated, and for purely historical purposes alone the opportunity should be seized for permanently placing on record the oral traditions of sailing ships while they are still available.”

The Liverpool Nautical Research Society has gone from strength to strength and in 2008 will be celebrating the 70^th anniversary of its foundation. Appropriately, a special commemorative book is being published by the Society to mark the occasion.

THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY

1. To preserve and promote interest in the history of shipping and all nautical subjects through research using the resources of the Merseyside Maritime Museum Archives and Library and other appropriate organisations.

2. To undertake historical surveys of ships, their builders, owners, masters, crews and other nautical technical matters, particularly of local interest.

3. To disseminate such information by publication in the Society’s quarterly journal ‘The Bulletin’, and at Society lecture presentations.

4. To assist, in a reasonable practical way, projects of the Merseyside Maritime Museum Archive, and to offer advice and research to any organisations with nautical interests.

5. To offer, in every suitable way, without charge, assistance with the range of appropriate enquiries that are received from the general public and outside bodies.

The affairs of the Society are managed by a Council which shall carry out the Policy of the Society decided at each Annual General Meeting or any Emergency General Meeting called in the intervening period.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Society shall be open to all persons interested in the objects of the Society. An annual subscription is reviewed from time to time by the Council and set with the approval of the Annual General Meeting.

THE SOCIETY’S QUARTERLY JOURNAL  -  “THE BULLETIN”

The Society produces a quarterly journal which is sent out by post to all Members.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

The Society meets on the third Thursday of each month between September and May in the Education Suite of the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.

Meetings commence at 12.30pm, but coffee and biscuits are available from 12.noon, enabling Members to spend a convivial half-hour catching up on news and gossip.

The Programme of Meetings from December 2007 until May 2008 is as follows:

Thurs. 20^th Dec, 2007   THE HISTORY OF HEYSHAM PORT (Mr J. R. Clague)

Thurs.17^th Jan, 2008  THE LOSS OF THE ‘MENDI’ (Mr G. Scott)

Thurs. 21^st Feb, 2008  THE ROYAL YACHT ‘MARY THE WRECK’ (Mr P. Day)

Thurs. 20^th Mar, 2008  LIFE AND TIMES OF A 19^th CENTURY MASTER M

 (Mr S. Williams)

Thurs. 17^th Apr, 2008 CONSERVATION OF SHIP MODELS (Mr C. Mosely)

Thurs. 15^th May, 2008   ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING   followed by

           INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF AMLWCH PORT (Mr P.Williams)