The Gull showing the fire damage.

THE Gull lightship beached beside the Thames at Grays was set alight on Sunday (the second of June 2002) much to the distress of people who are hoping to get it restored.

However once fire crews were made aware of the drive to save the world's second oldest sur­viving lightship to its former glory, they took extra time and care to extinguish the flames.

Station Officer Dave Ferris from Grays said: "Someone had decided to set alight to the front of it and I had the crew chopping away with the axe which is what we usually do.

"However a gentleman from the club explained people are trying to get lottery funding, so I changed the plan of attack." The crew then continued to extinguish the flames using foam and taking extra time and cares to leave as little damage as possible to the ship, which has been in Grays for more than half a century. 

Mr. Ferris added: "We have to react accordingly and decided not to cut it away because of the plans and the gentleman was very distressed by it.

"We believe it was set alight on purpose because there is no electricity or gas on the ship."

The Gull was built in 1860 and after more than 80 years ser­vice for Trinity House it was bought for use as a clubhouse at Thurrock Yacht Club, open­ing in 1971.

Grays Souvenir programme.

The Gull fire damage.

The Gull 1906.

A Whale at Grays-1849.