Lady Lou Vessel History

In 1939, the Rampart Boat Building Company of Southampton (then known as Rampart Boatbuilding Works) had nine of its vessels commandeered for war service. It is believed that a Rampart vessel was the last to leave Dunkirk, with several remaining there permanently. Lady Lou was among the survivors and, following the Dunkirk evacuation, was employed in coastal patrol duties. She was eventually repurchased by her pre-war owner, who held ownership from 1937 to 1953, after her release from service in 1942.

Any repairs or modifications made during her wartime service did not alter her original design, which is documented in drawings published in November 1936 in The Motor Boat magazine. Rampart was an enterprising family business that began before the First World War by building dinghies. The company later experimented with converting ex-Admiralty pinnaces into motor cruisers and built its own 30-foot motor cruiser in 1926. In 1935, Rampart designed and constructed a 40-foot twin-screw motor cruiser that became the prototype for all subsequent designs.

According to a 1980 letter to the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) from John Desty, a grandson of the company's founder, Lady Lou was constructed in 1936, although all registration documents list her build year as 1937. This discrepancy suggests that Lady Lou may have been a test vessel built and trialed in 1936 before being sold and registered the following year. A test report published in The Motor Boat in January 1937 likely describes Lady Lou. The journalist noted:

"The new cruiser has good flare at the bows and a clean run aft. Although we met a short, steep sea outside, and the windows of the deckhouse were continually smothered in heavy spray, I had no difficulty in dealing with my second, or it may have been my third, cup of tea and steering at the same time. This Rampart hull has an easy motion, with no unpleasant jerks. One can tell what she is going to do, and the boat does not do it a different way each time."

Lady Lou remains as accommodating and well-designed as she was at her launch, with no spillage of beverages reported during navigation.

Originally, Lady Lou was fitted with Morris Commodore Mark II petrol engines, which were later replaced by Perkins diesel engines. Currently, she operates with modern Nanni 4220HE diesel engines. She is capable of excellent progress against the tide at low revolutions, achieving a top speed of 10 knots, and can turn within her own length effortlessly.

The vessel’s custodianship is reflected in the saying, "You don't own a Little Dunkirk Ship, you're only the custodian." Each owner has endeavored to maintain Lady Lou in good condition, preserving her style and beauty to ensure her longevity beyond their own use.

The London River Yacht Club in Kingston upon Thames honors Lady Lou with an annual Lady Lou Cup, awarded to the best lady crew member. A notable photograph of Lady Lou on the Thames outside the club premises was sourced by her owner from 1953 to 1958. Ownership passed to another club member and Commodore from 1958 to 1987. The subsequent owner (1988–1996) recounted numerous adventurous voyages, including participation in the quinquennial Returns to Dunkirk in 1990 and 1995. During this period, Lady Lou was moored on the upper Thames at the bottom of the owner’s garden.

Each owner has left a personal imprint on the vessel, maintaining her original style while adapting the environment for improved handling. Lady Lou is constructed of pitch pine on English oak, with a mahogany transom, handrails, internal fittings, and a white painted canvas deck. Her wheelhouse is positioned well forward, separating the stateroom from the galley and saloon, providing the helmsman with excellent control and visibility. A flybridge was added to enhance helmsman comfort in inclement weather, and a second mizzen mast was installed to improve stability.

For her 60th anniversary, Lady Lou underwent a comprehensive overhaul, including replacement of engines, tanks, controls, steering, canvas, keel shoe, gas, and electrical installations. Her interior was modified for modern comfort while preserving the original mahogany style. The Maritime Workshop in Gosport expertly restored her to her former glory. The saloon remains unchanged, featuring original Art Deco glass panels on the lockers and a stylish gas heater, which has since been removed.

Following the formation of the Rampart Owners' Club (ROC), which includes the membership of Mr. Peter Desty, a marine surveyor and another grandson of the Rampart founder, further historical details about Lady Lou are expected to emerge.

In 2000, Lady Lou returned to Dunkirk and subsequently traveled through European waterways to a new home in Berlin. In 2015, she was sold to the then Commodore of the ADLS and returned to be based on the River Thames.