Union jack bunting and signal flags at the ready. Dunkirk spirit is coming to St Katharine Docks for the Royal Coronation Weekend (5 -8 May).
The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May. In celebration, St Katharine Docks will be hosting what is thought to be ‘the largest UK gathering of Dunkirk Little Ships in years’.
The Dunkirk evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, saw the evacuation of Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. A collection of approximately 850 private boats and 20 warships participated in Operation Dynamo and more than 200 ships were lost. Known as ‘Little Ships’, many of these courageous vessels live on, privately-owned and exquisitely preserved.
The marina is very proud to be welcoming 36 vessels from the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. The largest will be ‘Greta’, a 24-metre 19th century sailing barge, and what is thought to be the tiniest little ship of all, 26ft ‘Firefly’. The vessels be arriving on Thursday 4th. Occupying the Docks centre basin, the vessels will be opening to public on Friday 5th and Sunday 7th May. Festivities on Friday will correspond with a May Tea Dance to be held on Marble Quay, with lessons and toe-tapping fun with dance troop, the Ragroof Players.
