Victory Medal awarded to Meriel Larken
Saturday 18th June
On board HMS Victory, Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, Chairman of the Society for Nautical Research, presented The Victory Medal to Meriel Larken, Director of The Yavari Project in recognition of her individual effort to conserve a historic ship.
Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton presenting the Victory Medal to Meriel Larken
It was a thrill and a huge honour for a naval daughter to receive such a prestigious award on the Victory’s actual Quarter Deck and also offered her the opportunity of acknowledging the most significant of the many supporters, professionals, sponsors and volunteers who had contributed to the success of the Project. Of a long list, featured in her book, “The Ship the Lady and the Lake” she only had time to name HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the late Mr Frank Carr, Director of Greenwich Naval Museum, the late Sir John Smith of The Manifold Trust, Tim Parr, Naval Architect and so recently deceased. Ian Biles, Marine Surveyor and sponsor responsible for refitting the Yavari, Carlos Saavedra, the ship’s Captain for many years, Per Fonser for restoring the Swedish Bolinder 4-cylinder hot bulb engine and Mrs Ann Savours for proposing her for the medal.
Dinner took place on the lower gun deck!
