Heritage
Havengore was designed as a survey vessel for the Port of London Authority. She was the largest vessel they owned and their flagship. Havengore served the Port of London Authority for 40 years – their longest serving vessel - before being retired in 1995.
Havengore has been used for a large number of official events. The most notable event of Havengore’s life was during the official funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 where Havengore conveyed Sir Winston Churchill’s body up the Thames to Waterloo.
In addition to the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, Havengore has taken part in many other ceremonial events. Some of these are listed below:
The State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
Havengore carried Churchill's coffin from Tower Pier to Festival Pier during the state funeral , which was watched on television by 350 million people worldwide and attended by 110 world leaders.
The former prime minister was buried on 30 January 1965, having died aged 90. Two launches were used for the state funeral. On Havengore, accompanied by the Earl Marshall, travelled Lady Churchill, Mr. Randolph Churchill, Lady Audley, Mrs. Christopher Soames, Mr. Christopher Soames, Mr. Winston Churchill, Mr. Julian Sandys, Mrs. Piers Dixon, Miss Celia Sandys, Mr. Nicholas Soames, Miss Arabella Churchill.
On the second launch, the Thame, travelled Earl and Countess of Avon, Duke of Marlborough, Major John Churchill, Mrs. John Churchill, Mr. Peregrine Churchill, Mrs. Peregrine Churchill, Mr. Piers Dixon, Miss Emma Soames, Miss Charlotte Soames, Mr. Jeremy Soames, Mr. Montague-Browne.
When Havengore left Tower Pier the State Procession was concluded, the remainder of the proceedings being private. On arrival at Festival Hall Pier, the coffin was taken by Motor Hearse to Waterloo Station. Here, a bearer party was provided by the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars, the regiment to which Sir Winston was gazetted, when they were the 4th Hussars, in March 1895. The Battle of Britain class locomotive, "Winston Churchill", drew the funeral train of Pullman coaches from Waterloo to Long Handborough, near Bladon, Oxfordshire, where Sir Winston was buried privately.
Rememberance Day Services
For many years, Havengore took part in Remembrance Day services where she carried members of the ‘Goldfish Club’; men of the Royal Air Force who had been rescued from the sea after ejecting from their aircraft. Havengore would travel to the City the previous day and with most of the crew staying aboard would lay overnight at Westminster Pier. The following morning the crew in best uniforms would board the guests at Westminster Pier. By 10:40am Havengore, with PLA ensign at half mast and the Goldfish Club pennant flying, would drop away from the pier, taking up position in mid-channel. The members of the Goldfish Club would assemble on the afterdeck and the crew would muster by the Chart Room, as Big Ben struck 11:00am they would stand to attention for the minutes silence. As the final notes of the Last Post were heard from Whitehall a wreath was dropped over the side, slowly sinking below the surface. A RAF padre would conduct a short service. The impact of this simple act of remembrance remains stong today, one member recalls the service 35 years ago.
Queen Elizabeth II 1952-1977 Silver Jubilee
For London’s Silver Jubilee celebrations Havengore joined a pageant of more than 100 boats and five simultaneous firework displays on the River Thames. The craft taking part represented London riverside and British industry and commerce as well as many other organisations. The pageant moved from Greenwich, proceeded up the Thames to Vauxhall turned and passed the Queen at County Hall.