Fireboat restored

Published: Friday, 31 May 2013

THE fire boat Massey Shaw, that operated on the Thames during the second world war, has been restored by Tommi Nielsen's yard in Gloucester Docks.

The boat was built so that it could negotiate any of the Thames bridges in London no matter what what the state of the tide, and saved countless lives during the blitz on the city, reveals Alans Tilbury.

A wreck

Like many others, she was allowed to rust, and became a wreck, but help from the Heritage Lottery Fund saw her brought to Gloucester by road for restoration.

Now restored, the Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels Preservation Society intend to take her back home to London, by sea—her longest journey estimated at over 500 miles.