onionbagblog

Three months to the day when the Brightlingsea Battleship was first threatened with eviction from Wivenhoe, the old girl is still lying about in the Quay, still collecting cockles about her body and still scaring off students.

We’re talking about a boat here, by the way…

It hasn’t been quite the Quayside stand off as predicted – well, not yet, anyway. Time and tide may wait for no returning old salty sea dog, but I think that we all accept that Wivenhoe Mean Time runs at a pace that is about as pedestrian as my cycling abilities coming up Boundary Road.

Three months may be the alloted warning period of notice, but in Wivenhoe this could extend until Christmas.

As for the origins of the owner of the Brightlingsea Battleship?

Stories suggest that a fella from across the water in Rowhedge *may* be behind the mythical helm. Brightlingsea Harbour has also been put forward as the authority that is responsible for slapping on the makeshift sign. Some official form of contact may have helped.

Once again – comment is free, facts are sacred, Comrades. Please feel free to correct me.

As for the future? Well, the old girl has been making merry in the Wivenhoe mud for four years I am told. I can’t see her voluntarily giving up what is a key Quayside location.

I rather like the rough and ready nature of it, but I accept that it must be an eyesore, an inconvenience and probably a p-take for all those that have more Quayside involvement than I do.

Maybe the solution is to take community control? Failing that then a Brightlingsea bonfire may have just made itself available for the Quayside fireworks on 29th October.

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