Endeavour Centenary Party

THE Endeavour, Leigh’s beloved “Dunkirk Little Ship”, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
To mark the milestone, The Endeavour Trust is holding a unique centenary celebration.
A special gala dinner will be held at the Boatyard Restaurant in Leigh Old Town on November 6 2026, and will feature a sumptuous meal, alongside live music from ‘Jackie Wilson Says’, a raffle, and a short talk on the history of the iconic boat.
It was back in 1940 that the Endeavour joined five other Leigh bawleys — Defender, Letitia, Reliance, Renown and Resolute — in travelling to Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo, a vast military operation during World War II that saw over £330,00 Allied troops evacuated by boat form the beaches of Normandy.
The eye-catching green boat is now a piece of continuity with that national history, lovingly restored and maintained by The Endeavour Trust since 2001.
Built in 1926 for Harry Robinson, the Endeavour spent more than 14 years fishing for cockles in the shallow waters of the Essex coast before being called upon for the evacuation between May 26 and June 4, 1940.
This year marks both the 100th anniversary of the Endeavour, and the 86th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
The special event at The Boatyard will honour the Endeavour’s history and remember the crew of the Renown, who sadly never returned home from the operation.
It is an occasion for Leigh to come together and take part in this shared history, whilst helping ensure The Endeavour remains a fixture for generations to come.
Chris Burls, the trust’s membership secretary, said: “We are encouraging local community groups, businesses, yacht clubs and the like to join us in celebrating Endeavour’s 100th anniversary.
“The aim is to attract in excess of 200 guests, who will sit down to a three-course meal with live music from the well-known local band ‘Jackie Wilson Says’.
“We plan to have a joyful evening, with dancing until 11.30 pm.”
The Trust hopes that the town will come together to enjoy an evening of celebrations, live music, raffle prizes, dancing and the story of the Endeavour.
Book a table with friends and family and make memories of.”
Tickets are £60 per person, with a menu including starters include prawn cocktail, Italian meats or soup. Mains are chicken wrapped in pancetta, salmon or seabass, braised beef, or vegan beetroot and butternut squash Wellington. Desserts include strawberry or vegan cheesecake, chocolate torte, or vanilla panna cotta.
Food choice confirmations will be taken by the Boatyard restaurant at a later date.
If you have a table of 8 or 12, these are most easily booked via the link below here: https://bookwhen.com/https-bookwhen-com-osborneseafoodschool/e/ev-sdtzh-20261106183000
Alternatively, you can contact Cameron McGregor on 01702 460856 or Chris Burls on 01702 553274 with payment then being made through the Trust’s bank account.
For more information, membership details and news, visit https://endeavourtrust.blogspot.com/
Picture: The Endeavour flying her centenary banner.
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