Jane Benham
Encyclopedia
Jane Benham MBE
(28 January 1943, Colchester, Essex – June 1992, Colchester) was instrumental in the formation and operation of the East Coast Sail Trust , a charitable institution devoted to both character building for young people through sail training, and preservation of Thames sailing barges. The Trust has been running now for over 40 years, during which time many thousands of young people from all over Britain and indeed around the world, have benefited from the unique experience that is provided. A mark of the impact she made is the institution of an annual memorial lecture in her honour, which continues today.
The Trust owned and operated two sailing barges (known in the Trust as schoolships) the 150 burthen ton Thalatta
and the 200 ton Sir Alan Herbert, both coasting spritsail barges, rigged with ketch mizzens. The latter vessel was procured through an appeal made in memory of the famous humourist, novelist, playwright and one-time MP, A.P. Herbert.
The Trust continues to operate today, based at Maldon, Essex
and the sailing barge Thalatta is undergoing a major overhaul and rebuild at the barge yard at St Osyth, largely supported by lottery funding. The name Thalatta originates from the Greek word meaning the sea (see Thalatta! Thalatta!
). The Sir Alan Herbert is no longer in the hands of the Trust, and has reverted to her original name, Lady Jean.
, founder of the Trust, master mariner and author; and his wife, Monica Kemp. The programme was dubbed 'A Week in Another World'. During their stay on board the schoolships, children and their accompanying teachers or youth leaders explored the east coast within the area North Foreland
in the south to Orfordness in the north, living on board and working the vessels under sail.
Jane Benham was awarded the MBE
for her work with the East Coast Sail Trust.
She was a strong and generous supporter of several charities, as well as a number of individuals whose hardship came to her notice.
, former editor of the successful Essex County Standard
newspaper and prolific author of books, in particular about sailing and shipping on the east coast.
She was brought up in Fingringhoe
and West Mersea
, Essex; and educated at St Mary's School, Colchester and St Felix School, Southwold. When not at sea she lived during most of her life at Maldon, Essex
. Jane Benham died from cancer, aged 49, in 1992.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(28 January 1943, Colchester, Essex – June 1992, Colchester) was instrumental in the formation and operation of the East Coast Sail Trust , a charitable institution devoted to both character building for young people through sail training, and preservation of Thames sailing barges. The Trust has been running now for over 40 years, during which time many thousands of young people from all over Britain and indeed around the world, have benefited from the unique experience that is provided. A mark of the impact she made is the institution of an annual memorial lecture in her honour, which continues today.
Schoolship scheme
Sailing barge Thalatta
The Thalatta was a Thames sailing barge, built in Harwich, Essex, in 1906. She was 90 feet long and 26 feet across the widest part of the deck. Like all Thames barges, she was flat-bottomed and had leeboards instead of a keel. She spent some of her life ketch-rigged and some of it spritsail-rigged...
and the 200 ton Sir Alan Herbert, both coasting spritsail barges, rigged with ketch mizzens. The latter vessel was procured through an appeal made in memory of the famous humourist, novelist, playwright and one-time MP, A.P. Herbert.
The Trust continues to operate today, based at Maldon, Essex
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
and the sailing barge Thalatta is undergoing a major overhaul and rebuild at the barge yard at St Osyth, largely supported by lottery funding. The name Thalatta originates from the Greek word meaning the sea (see Thalatta! Thalatta!
Thalatta! Thalatta!
Thálatta! Thálatta! was the shouting of joy when the roaming 10,000 Greeks saw Euxeinos Pontos from Mount Theches in Armenia, after participating in Cyrus the Younger's failed march against the Persian Empire in the year 401 BC. The mountain was only a five-day march away from the friendly...
). The Sir Alan Herbert is no longer in the hands of the Trust, and has reverted to her original name, Lady Jean.
Achievements
Jane Benham was a major figure in development of the Trust's work, personally carried out much of the administration and served as First Mate of the Thalatta. In this endeavour, she worked closely with John KempJohn Arthur Kemp
John Kemp, 1926–1987, created and ran the East Coast Sail Trust, a charitable institution devoted to both character building for young people through education at sea, and preservation of Thames sailing barges...
, founder of the Trust, master mariner and author; and his wife, Monica Kemp. The programme was dubbed 'A Week in Another World'. During their stay on board the schoolships, children and their accompanying teachers or youth leaders explored the east coast within the area North Foreland
North Foreland
North Foreland is a chalk headland on the Kent coast of southeast England.North Foreland forms the eastern end of the Isle of Thanet. It presents a bold cliff to the sea, and commands views over the southern North Sea.-Lighthouse:...
in the south to Orfordness in the north, living on board and working the vessels under sail.
Jane Benham was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for her work with the East Coast Sail Trust.
Artist and benefactor
She was also a prolific and accomplished artist, painting mainly small works in oils, acrylic and watercolour, principally of Essex coastal scenes.She was a strong and generous supporter of several charities, as well as a number of individuals whose hardship came to her notice.
Background
Jane Benham was the daughter of Hervey BenhamHervey Benham
Hervey W G Benham, 1910 - 1987, was the pioneering proprietor of Essex County Newspapers, a prolific author of books on Essex and the East Coast, an accomplished musician and a significant benefactor...
, former editor of the successful Essex County Standard
Essex County Standard
The Essex County Standard is a weekly newspaper, published in Colchester, Essex. As of January 2011, it has an average circulation of 16,614 per issue. It is currently owned by the Newsquest Media Group, part of the American Gannett Company.- History :...
newspaper and prolific author of books, in particular about sailing and shipping on the east coast.
She was brought up in Fingringhoe
Fingringhoe
Fingringhoe is a village and civil parish in Essex, England located five miles south-east of Colchester. The centre of the village is classified as a conservation area featuring a traditional village pond and red telephone box. The Roman River flows nearby before entering the River Colne.-St....
and West Mersea
West Mersea
West Mersea is a small town in the Colchester borough of Essex, England. It is the larger of two settlements on Mersea Island, located south east of Colchester. The smaller settlement on the island is the village of East Mersea....
, Essex; and educated at St Mary's School, Colchester and St Felix School, Southwold. When not at sea she lived during most of her life at Maldon, Essex
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
. Jane Benham died from cancer, aged 49, in 1992.