Always on
This project successfully funded on 18th December 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Saving Guide of Dunkirk
Norwich, United Kingdom
Aim
Guide of Dunkirk is an important piece of English heritage. She spent her life saving lives and now we need your help to save hers!
Guide of Dunkirk was commissioned by the Girl Guides in 1930 for the grand sum of £5000. She was one of the first self righting lifeboats to be built.
She was built in Rowhedge, Essex and shortly after she was launched was commandeered by the royal navy to take part in Operation Dynamo as part of the Dunkirk Evacuations.
Despite suffering severe shell fire damage from enemy planes she made two chanel crossings, rescuing stranded soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk and returning them to their loved ones.
Following her return from Dunkirk she went straight into service as a lifeboat and spent her life saving lives right up until 1963.
She now resides at our traditional boatyard in the heart of Norfolk Broadland. Here at Abbey Boat Builder we specialise in the restoration of classic and historical vessels and it is our aim to rescue Guide of Dunkirk so that she can rest easy on the Norfolk Broads and help support and sustain the heritage and history that she helped create.
But we need your help! Not only for the restoration costs but also to run community outreach programmes and workshops. Our aim is to use this project to encourage craftsmanship as a career and to educate people on English history and heritage. Helping young people to learn new skills, become a part of history and develop practical skills that will not only build confidence but hopefully inspire a future generation of boatbuilders and waterman. We are working closely with the Girl Guides and hope to include them in all future workshops and river trips, inspiring young girls to become a part of history and develop a love and respect for heritage and life on the water.
So if you would like to be a part of this historical project, not only saving the life of such an important vessel but also helping to build the next generation of traditional boatbuilders then please donate to our project.
To follow progress please find us on Instagram or Facebook @abbeyboatbuilder or on our website www.abbeyboatbuilder.com
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made