Couple ensure rescued boat is ship-shape for jubilee

A Second World War rescue craft which saved the crew of an American bomber has been restored to full glory by a Brightwalton couple and will now take part in a flotilla down the Thames to mark the Queen’s anniversary.
Marion and Alistair Walker (main picture) have lovingly restored the vessel, 441, on their tennis court under a tarpaulin roof, and hope to have a full unveiling before the big day in June.“
A rescue boat, it needed rescuing itself, it was in an awfully sorry state when we found it. It had really fallen apart,” Mrs Walker said.
“We took it to pieces and put it together again bit by bit, it is now looking very smart and ready for the launch. It’s a complete original, and is a very special boat.”
“It has a lovely bit of history which attracted us to it, it rescued a lot of people, people who are still alive remember it and would love to see it on the water again.”
It was commissioned at RAF Calshot, Southampton in October 1941, and in1944 it rescued the entire crew of a B17 ditched in the Channel, and played an active role in the Channel on D-Day.
Since the end of wartime the boat has had quite a journey.
After being decommissioned in 1956 it was sold to a man named Norman Kidd who took the ship from Boston, Lincolnshire, through the canal system to Stourport on Severn, where it became a local attraction at river festivals.
In 2004 at the age of 92 Mr Kidd decide to sell, and Mr and Mrs Walker began their task of restring the vessel to its original specification.
On Sunday, June 3, vessel 441 with gather with over one thousand other boats on the River Thames to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Mrs Walker said it was a huge honour, and that she and her husband were proud and delighted to be taking part, and that long-term they would use the boat in shows to increase awareness of the RAF Hendon museum.