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National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
The winners of the 2023 National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition, Marsh Volunteer Awards, and Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award were revealed on Wednesday 22 November, during an Awards Ceremony filmed at The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh and streamed online. The Awards film also celebrated the six Flagships of the Year, announced earlier in the season, and featured some exclusive content filmed aboard Britannia, including an exclusive interview on the Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound. Watch the Awards film on YouTube.
National Historic Ships UK’s (NHS-UK) annual awards are a celebration of maritime heritage around the UK. They encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with historic vessels through photography, volunteering, conservation, online activities, and skills-based training.
Britannia was chosen as this year’s host venue as she celebrates two special anniversaries in 2023 - 70 years since her launch, and 25 years as a visitor attraction. Guest presenters were Norfolk sailor and boat restorer Ash Faire-Ring, and historian and TV presenter Dan Snow.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
The Photography Competition is always hugely popular, with hundreds of entries each year from Britain and around the world. This year's theme was 'In All Weathers', and it attracted nearly 500 entries featuring historic vessels in all conditions from brilliant sunshine to stormy seas, or the still waters of the lakes and inland waterways.
There are four main Award categories: Photographer of the Year - awarded to the photographer and image selected by the judges as the Overall Winner of the competition; The Classic Boat Award - chosen by Classic Boat and awarded to the image most closely fitting the ethos of the magazine; Newcomer of the Year; and the People's Choice Award - the only award voted for by the public.
WINNER: Photographer of the Year
Sallie and the Wolf Moon, by Sandy Miller (Chelmsford, Essex)
Highly Commended Grand Union pair Bargus and Betelgeuse heading along the Trent & Mersey Canal in a low winter sun, by Kev Maslin (Tipton, West Midlands)
WINNER: Classic Boat Award
Looking Down, by Jeff Welch (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Highly Commended
Masts in the Mist, by James Crisp (Maldon, Essex)
WINNER: Newcomer of the Year
VIC 32, by Wayne Starkey (Timperley, Cheshire)
WINNER: People’s Choice Award
Crew Embarking the MV Glenachulish, by Ian Southerin (Crewe, Cheshire)
Meet our 2023 Photography Competition Winners
MARSH VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The Marsh Volunteer Awards recognise outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the sector with many vessels depending on them to keep going. These Awards, run in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust, celebrate the hard work and achievement of the many diverse individuals and groups who volunteer in support of maritime heritage. There are three Award categories: Group, Individual, and Shipshape Project – for projects listed on NHS-UK’s Shipshape Network.
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Group
Friends of Lady Daphne (Charlestown, Cornwall)
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Individual
Colin Barton, The Excelsior Trust (Lowestoft, Suffolk)
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Shipshape Project (awarded jointly)
The Volunteers of the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
WINNER: Marsh Volunteer of the Year - Shipshape Project (awarded jointly)
The Pilgrim of Brixham Volunteers (Brixham, Devon)
Meet our 2023 Marsh Volunteer Awards Winners
THE MARTYN HEIGHTON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARITIME CONSERVATION
In honour of NHS-UK’s late Director, Martyn Heighton, the Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award was launched in 2019 to mark best practice in the conservation of historic vessels. The Award boasts a hand-carved trophy that was commissioned using wood from HMS Victory, and, new for 2023, a £500 cash prize courtesy of our sponsor Beckett Rankine.
WINNER: HULL CITY COUNCIL - Spurn Lightship
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Tim Loftus, Johnson and Loftus Boat Builders - St Vincent
Meet our 2023 Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award Winners
FLAGSHIPS OF THE YEAR
The annual Flagship of the Year Awards provide an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public, through online activities, museum engagement, events, open days and special tours. Flagships promote the role of NHS-UK and ‘fly the flag’ as ambassadors for the UK’s maritime heritage sector. This year, the judges were especially impressed by the high quality of applications, and therefore awarded Flagship status to a record three Operational and three Static vessels.
Operational Flagships of the Year 2023
- Swan (Lerwick, Shetland)
- Lady of the Lake (Ullswater, Cumbria)
- The Chieftain (Whitstable, Kent)
Static Flagships of the Year 2023
- HMS Caroline (Belfast)
- LV21 (Gravesend, Kent)
- Marjorie R (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
