Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal unveils Horace & Hannah plaque
On Tuesday 28 March 2023, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited ABP’s Port of Ipswich for the commissioning of Horace & Hannah, a 1906 Great Yarmouth Shrimper, which has recently been rescued and refurbished by Lowestoft-based Excelsior Trust.
The commissioning event took place at The Old Custom House, at ABP’s Port of Ipswich. The Princess Royal is Excelsior Trust’s Centenary Patron, having commissioned the 1921-built Lowestoft sailing smack Excelsior in 1988 as a sail-training vessel, which has since taken more than 10,000 young people to sea, often with life-changing results.
Horace & Hannah will join Excelsior, an approved Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award provider, in teaching young people traditional skills and literally broadening their horizons. Crewing these vessels ensures that the maritime heritage of East Anglia continues and reminds the next generations of the importance of preserving important examples of fishing history.
Before unveiling the Horace & Hannah plaque, HRH The Princess Royal said:
“Thank you for your continued enthusiasm for maritime heritage.”
She added that she was "delighted" to be invited to the event, to "make sure that skillset continues to exist, not forgetting the value it has in the future, nevermind the past."
Excelsior Chair Jamie Campbell said:
“We are honoured that HRH The Princess Royal has recommissioned Horace & Hannah as a sail training vessel. Our refurbishment programme began in lockdown and it is extremely satisfying that it has had such a positive outcome. We look forward to sharing Horace & Hannah with many more young people in the years to come.”
Andrew Harston, Regional Director, ABP said:
“It’s a great privilege to be able to host HRH The Princess Royal at our port in Ipswich, and on the site where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth officially opened Ipswich Waterfront just over two decades ago on 17 July 2002. The Port of Ipswich boasts a rich maritime history, and is proud to play a key role in supporting local community.”
