‘Makaira’ takes cover

 

A lady of the sea is taking on a new summer bonnet!

 

‘Makaira’, one of the Pembroke Dock Flying Boat Centre’s star exhibits, now has an all-weather cover, generously provided by scaffolding company Kitsons which has a depot close by in the Port of Pembroke. This will allow the team of enthusiastic volunteers from the Sunderland Trust to work on the vessel, which is believed to have served with the RAF locally.

 

The team is led by Greg Laycock who has mapped out a programme to repair and repaint the 47 ft long vessel.

 

Said Greg: “We are most grateful to Eamonn Thomas and the team from Kitsons Enviromental Europe Ltd for so generously supporting us. It has given us a big boost and we have the summer ahead in which to carry out a lot of work on ‘Makaira’. We want to return it more to its RAF look and we will also be continuing to research its history and the many roles it has played during a long military and later civilian career.”

 

‘Makaira’, which is fully equipped and in working order, was brought by road from Swansea last year. It is on long term loan to the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust from owner Richard Harvey who now lives in Australia.

 

“Craft such as ‘Makaira’ had a long connection with Pembroke Dock and we are looking forward to a busy summer, and to returning the RAF roundel to the bow. It’s part of our local history,” added Greg.

 

* ‘Makaira’ is on view alongside the Flying Boat Centre which is open Tuesdays to Saturdays inclusive, 10 am - 4 pm. Funding for the Centre is from the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). This is administered locally by Pembrokeshire County Council.

 

Caption:

Under cover. ‘Makaira’ shows off the new cover with, left to right, Billy Jones and Eamonn Thomas of Kitsons; Sunderland Trust volunteers Greg Laycock and Derek Lawrence, and Ian Rome of Kitsons.

PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.