HMS Vale

Melton Boatyard is a traditional working boatyard with a reputation for offering a friendly welcome and straightforward boating advice. Established in 1981, the yard remained unchanged for many years until Simon Skeet took over from his father Mel, who passed away in 2015. Simon has been sympathetically clearing, tidying and improving the yard, while carefully maintaining his father’s vision of providing a business where customers feel welcome and part of the Melton Boatyard family.
As part of his improvement plans, Simon wanted customers to be able to sit in the warm and dry with a hot coffee, a jolly good breakfast and to have a clubhouse for evening gatherings and boatyard events – and so the search for a suitable provision began. Many ideas were put forward, but nothing seemed to fit with this unique boatyard setting.
And so it remained, until HMS Vale (known as TS Lord Nelson) became available. Cate Meadows, who owns the ship with Simon explains: “We were watching Anglia News and saw the plight of Norwich Sea Cadets, who were being forced out of their floating headquarters. It was at this moment, we made a decision to visit the ship, with a firm view that this may be the café/clubhouse the boatyard had been searching for.” After much negotiation a price was agreed, but before business could be finalised there was the small matter of how to get a 120 ton ex-Swedish Missile Attack Craft out of the centre of Norwich, through the Norfolk Broads, out to sea at Yarmouth for a 41-mile journey along the coast to Felixstowe Ferry, over the notorious Deben Bar and upriver to Melton Boatyard.”
Cate, who is clearly passionate about her ship, says: “Moving such a vessel was going to be no easy feat, especially as she had no means of self-propulsion or steering. Many companies shied away from this task and wouldn’t even quote, but Tam and Ben Grundy thought that not only was it achievable, it was an exciting proposition; they joined forces with Melton Boatyard and fully immersed themselves in the project”. The purchase of HMS Vale was finally complete and – after months of preparation and negotiation with the multitude of authorities responsible for the differing waterways, eight bridges, ports and the MCA – a move date was agreed.
“In the early hours of 24 June 2018, Tam and Ben arrived in Norwich city centre with their tugs, Ben Michael and Fury, to tow HMS Vale home; only to be immediately met with an eight-day delay waiting for the Haven Bridge to open – but that’s a story in itself!” says Cate. With the bridge finally opening, HMS Vale recommenced her journey. First she was lifted out in Yarmouth for inspection, repair and painting by Melton Boatyard. Then on 11 July 2018 she was taken out to sea, along the coast to Felixstowe where an ‘at sea’ transfer took place. “With the light beginning to fade and some challenging sea conditions, Tam and Ben once again took over the tow and safely negotiated HMS Vale over Deben Bar and into the river. Stopping at The Rocks for a few days to wait for a spring tide, they picked her up once more, took her through the narrow and twisting Woodbridge fairway and pushed her into place at Melton Boatyard on16 July to the sound of triumphant boat horns and cheering crowds,” says Cate.
Initial work to the ship involved preventing any further deterioration and improving her external appearance. This was quickly followed by the creation of a quay and then the construction of the small café galley in the ship’s former wardroom. Since this day work has never ceased; each week bringing new ideas and challenges: fitting out the café, creating a clean food storage area, fitting windows into the former engine room, constructing a bar area and creating a roof and sides for the café on deck.
Now, HMS Vale boasts a popular café and Deben Bar, a private members’ club located in her engine room. Asked about the challenges of the enormous task to convert HMS Vale, Simon says: “Throughout the project, none of the work has been difficult; it’s more about how much money you can find and how many hours you can fit into a day.”
 “Looking back, it’s hard to remember all the challenges we faced – at the time they were almost insurmountable but now are moulded into the story of the ship and her history,” says Cate. “Once a mighty warship, she has her own tales to tell and now we are part of that story. And it all turned out alright in the end; she is the perfect place for the boatyard and wider community to come together and make their own. Every day we continue to move the project forward and it is a lot of hard work, but I expect it’s always going to be this way; she’s settled in now and that’s what really matters.”
• Deben Café offers a good selection of food and drink and uses local ingredients wherever possible. Future plans include a pontoon for small craft to moor up while visiting the café or clubhouse.