The Book:
Little Ship, Big Story
The Book - Little Ship, Big Story – Immerses the reader in a series of fascinating stories covering an eighty-three-year period and ranging around the world.
Stories that reveal insights into the lives of those who since 1935 have owned, sailed, served on, or have in some way been connected with Sheemaun as she has cruised through the decades.
Historic events and long past times are re-visited. Amazing stories that take the reader back to the 1930s then on through the War Years with true tales of bravery, of death and suicide, and of desperate sea-battles.
The fascinating memoirs and inspired artwork of the late Stanley Dodd RNVR who served as engineer on the armed HMY Sheemaun in WW2 is revealed. Stanley’s first-hand experiences during the Blitzing of London are told.
Post-War we see the demise and re-birth of London’s Docklands, tales of adventures and discovery; gold smuggling (about which she is rather reticent), Regal celebrations, a terrorist atrocity and finally recognition of Sheemaun as a vessel of National and Historic significance.
The Author
Rodney Pell was appointed as consultant surgeon and traumatologist to the East London and Docklands area at a time when the London Docks were still working in accordance with centuries old traditions.
His childhood fascination with the ships and the seas was re-ignited when he became the owner of Sheemaun.
Eventually resigning from his NHS post, he came to be admitted as an Associate of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and has had the honour to sit on the panel of judges on behalf of National Historic Ships UK, a Government funded authority, in respect of granting awards to volunteers and groups working to conserve historic UK vessels.
Now retired, Rodney works on the conservation of Sheemaun and together with his wife Maura, who is also a Yacht Master and skippers her own 15 ton ketch, they share their interests in the world of boating.
