April 2004
Groundforce
Following on from the story below, Tommy Walsh has recommended our sevices to Charlie Dimmock to make a set of screens for an episode of Groundforce. The screens have been made in various brightly coloured sailcloths, and are to hang around a garden perimiter.
The programme aired in the spring of 2005 and repeats are regularly shown on UKTV Style Garden.
November 2003
Challenge Tommy Walsh
We have just completed an awning for the Discovery Home and Leisure programme Challenge Tommy Walsh. Tommy came in to see us and we helped to design an awning to fit over the bar area of an "Adults Playground". The awning has been made in "Natural" Sunbrella with a yellow hem, it has sail rings in the corners to allow it to be tensioned out to corner posts.
On completing the awning Tommy came in personally to collect it an was a great sport, signing autographs and posing for photos with us all.
The programme was aired in the spring of 2004 and repeats are regularly found on the Discovery Realtime Channel.
March 2003
We now supplying the full range of Awnings and blinds by Shadewell, the UK's leading manufacturer of awning and blind mechanisms. These can all be fitted with motorised mechanisms which are remote controlled and can also be fully automated.
Click image for more info.
Jan 2002 Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
"Set dressed for the filming of 'The Four Feathers'-yet to be released. This is the first occasion since 1938,when she sailed from Falmouth to Greenhithe to join Worcester , that sails have been bent on Cutty Sark's yards."
The completed sails can be seen in the photo above taken from The Cutty Trust's 2001 Christmas card.
Jan 2001:
Sails for the Cutty Sark
We are currently manufacturing nine sails for the famous tea clipper in dry dock at Greenwich, London.
We were delighted to be given the order by High Command productions , a film production company currently remaking the classic " The Four Feathers". Some scenes will be filmed aboard the Cutty Sark and they needed the ship to appear in full sail. So on the recommendation of Captain Waite, who has been using our company to supply canvas work for the Cutty Sark for over ten years (see company history), we were approached by the studio to 're-sail' the ship.
Of the nine sails (the lower three on each mast) the main course sail is being made in full, the others only of two thirds height to be seen reefed. They are all to be made of a 15oz cotton duck canvas, slightly lighter than the 18oz flax which was originally used but should make it a lot easier to hoist them.
The main course has been machine broad seemed but all of the rope work is being done by hand with traditional tapered splices and hand fitted bulls eyes.
We understand that after production the sails will be kept by the Cutty Sark Trust and will be used on many occasions.
Jan 2000:
A Royal Millennium
During December 1999 we were proud to be asked by Beacon Millennium to make and fit the awnings and side covers for the Millennium of Peace. This vessel is a brand new addition to the fleet of sight seeing boats for City cruises and was to be used by The Queen to light the millennium beacon at Tower bridge in London, the awning being made especially for this occasion. This would begin the lighting of many beacons all over the UK.
After lighting the beacon the Queen and Prince Phillip stayed aboard for the trip to the Millennium Dome.
The Millennium of Peace, carrying the Queen and Prince Phillip, arriving at the Millennium Dome. Our awning can be seen on the upper deck.
Visit our marine
page to see some of the traditional sail work we do
