21/06/2026
This is a Dunkirk Little Ship, called the Guide of Dunkirk and has been expertly restored by the super talented Abbey Boat Builder and her team in Reedham, Norfolk.
I photographed it 12 months ago and returned to Abbey’s boat yard last week to record the moment this historic lifeboat returned to the water. She was originally funded by the Girl Guides Association and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation on the 1st June 1940, being hit by shellfire and badly damaged.
To see The Guide of Dunkirk returned to her former glory by Abbey’s team was truly remarkable and I hope these few photographs pay tribute to this inspiring female boatbuilder and others like her. BTW, I highly recommend following Abbey’s IG page to see more of her work.