The Cutty Sark Trust is fundraising for The Cutty Sark Trust

Cutty Sark Fire

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Raising money for

The Cutty Sark Trust

Charity Registration No. 1080462

The Cutty Sark Trust is an independent charity which owns and runs the sole surviving tea clipper, Cutty Sark. The ship is the iconic Gateway to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. For over 50 years she has been the flagship of the area which now attracts over six million visitors a year. The Trust’s mission is to ensure that Cutty Sark is preserved for this and future generations as a rich cultural resource for all. The ship was undergoing a major conservation project when fire swept through her in May 2007. For more information please visit www.cuttysark.org.uk

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The Cutty Sark Trust

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31/08/2008

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Raised so far: £2,437,561.19

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My story

An Update From Richard Doughty, Chief Executive, Cutty Sark Trust

On 21 May 2007 a major fire swept through Cutty Sark. Media images suggested a unique icon of world maritime history gone forever. Amazingly, we learned very quickly that less than 2% of the fabric from her working life as a sailing ship has been lost. We are remarkably lucky – Cutty Sark is still here.

At the time of the fire, the ship’s masts, gear and deckhouses and saloon , along with half of the historic planking had been removed for conservation or storage. Of the remaining planks only a few were badly damaged and even so we have been able to remove the charring so they can be rehung. More importantly, we found out that the ship’s iron frame has not distorted significantly.

Our overall project vision is not compromised. We can still lift the ship 3m above her current position to allow visitors to walk under her uniquely shaped hull. We can pursue our active treatments for corrosion, stress and wear and tear. We aim to reopen in early 2010 when Cutty Sark will be relaunched as a landmark visitor attraction and inspirational museum for all.

We still do not know what caused the fire. We are waiting for the police report to be issued; the ship is technically still a crime scene.

Momentum on the project has been sustained since the fire. Now for the first time since she was built, the iron frame is fully exposed as 80% of the hull planks are now off. A third of the ship has now been cleaned with a wet abrasive process exposing foundry marks not seen since 1869. The bowsprit and rudder have now been removed for conservation. The poop has been raised to expose the metal work underneath.

On 25 January we received the best news of all: the Heritage Lottery Fund announced it would award our project an exceptional grant of £10m. Carole Souter, Director of the HLF, said, “The Cutty Sark is an amazing testament to our maritime heritage and one that we felt passionately must be protected for another century’s worth of enjoyment.”

This incredible support means we have now raised £30m of the £35m needed to save the ship, made possible by the generosity of companies, trusts and thousands of individual well-wishers from around the world.. We still have £5m to raise but we now have confidence to turn our vision for Cutty Sark into a reality.

Please join with us now on the last leg of our voyage by donating – together we can raise Cutty Sark’s masts again!

Thank you for your support

	A great London Landmark that I visited as a child. I hope 1 day to be able to take my own children Donation by Jo 05/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Donation by paul moon 05/06/07	£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
	Donation by Hugh Hassard-Jones 04/06/07	£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid
	Please save this old lady! Donation by Paulo Meireles 04/06/07	£10.00
	Donation by martin page 04/06/07	£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
	For a treasure in the heart of London which I hope to see restored to its former glory very soon Donation by Karen McNulty 04/06/07	£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid
	Donation by Anonymous 04/06/07	£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid
	Donation by Ian Macklin 03/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Donation by Anon 03/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Donation by Dan 03/06/07	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Donation by A Woodage 03/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Looking forward to seeing her rebuilt Donation by Neill Dewar 03/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Donation by Jillian Byars 03/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Come on, all you other marathon puffers - lets save our favourite landmark ! Donation by Jools the jog 03/06/07	£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid
	Donation by Michael Schulz 02/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good luck with the restoration Donation by Julia Upton 02/06/07	£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid
	Donation by anonymous 02/06/07	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Donation by Charlie 02/06/07	£100.00
	From Olga in memory of my late stepfather, Russian author Georgi Vladimov who loved the Cutty Sark Donation by Olga M. 02/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good Luck! Donation by anonymous 02/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	All good wishes Donation by Neil 02/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	May you save this jewel, and not do like my country which did nothing to save our poor SS FRANCE Donation by Guillaume Pargade 02/06/07	£40.00
	Donation by Helen Blagden 02/06/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	good luck cutty sark Donation by paul howarth 02/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	With Love from Aunty Sue and Beth (8) Donation by Sue 02/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Donation by Amanda 02/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Hold on, good luck! Donation by Alberto 02/06/07	£15.00
	Donation by Lucinda Neal 01/06/07	£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
	Donation by Anonymous 01/06/07	£100.00
	Donation by David Warner 01/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

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* Total raised online:	£44,535.19
Offline donations:	£2,393,026.00
Gift Aid plus supplement:	£9,361.95

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.