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Our Aims
The aim of the Melik Society is to advance public awareness of Anglo-Sudanese history in the period 1883-1899 and subsequently, through the restoration and preservation of the river gunboat Melik and the paddle steamer Bordein.
To whom it may concern:
I have been helping an elderly friend clear out some accumulated belongings. Among other things, we found a small silver trophy inscribed: Sudan Marine Club, 1926 1927 J. W. Clark (her late father in law). We thought it must relate to a sailing club and were wondering if you were able to throw any light upon the matter. If it was a sailing club back then, it may have changed its name and we were wondering if you have any idea what the current club name may be (assuming it is not totally defunct). Any information which you may have would be gratefully received!
Kind regards,
Catrin Jones
I’ve asked a friend in Khartoum about this but no reply yet. The Sudan Marine Club could have been one of two things – either the previous name of the Blue Nile Sailing Club ( still in existence) or, more likely, a sailing club in Port Sudan which probably no longer exists or has another name.
If I hear anything definite I’ll let you know.
Regards
Henry Keown-Boyd
I’ve read your letter with interest because I was much involved with the Blue Nile Sailing Club in the 1970s. You may have seen the article about it on the website.
We must await the result of Henry K-B’s inquiries and if the Sudan Marine Club was anything to do with the BNSC we can put you in touch with its present mangement.
Regards
Tony Uloth
I am delighted to see this site and hear of the society, restoring the Bordein has been a pipe-dream of mine for years!
I feel so sorry to learn that The Battle ship Melik had run aground at the bank of the Blue Nile in Khartoum Sudan and it is consumed by rust I use to remember when I was teenager when passing the Nile street in Khartoum and when approaching Khartoum palace and the sailing club where she was anchored facing the east.
It was the GOOD OLD TIME .
I hope that it will be salvaged and a float again some day.
Ibrahim
Just to put your mind at rest (Ibrahim), when I was in Khartoum in december 2009, I stayed at the BNSC for a few days and found that the Melik was still in pretty good nick. Yes, the paint is peeling etc but it did not seem to be consumed by rust and I would guess that structurally-speaking, it’s probably ok.
Paul
I remember the Melik fondly, as my father was a member of the BNSC from 1962 -1966. We were often there at the start and end of races – it was all very exciting and we still a silver ‘ashtray’ or similar with the club logo on, won as a treasured prize.
I didn’t know the Melik still existed until I spotted it on a TV programme broadcast in the UK a couple of days ago.
Re Jane’s comments above, we were in Khartoum between 1953 and 1960, and I also remember running up and down the decks of the Melik on race days! Our little sailing dinghy was always there in the thick of it. We sailed on the Blue Nile as well, I recall, and have some photos and old cinefilm of those days.
Dear Mrs Riding, The Melik Society has a considerable archive of pictures of the Melik going back to her earliest days but very few of the period you mention 1953-60. I wonder if we could borrow and, with your permission, copy any you have of her and her surroundings at that time ? Also if your cinefilm contains any footage of the Melik I believe we could have put on a DVD.
If you agree perhaps you would send them to our Secretary, Anthony Harvey, Knapp Farm, Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR3 6JD. Of course everything will be returned.
Kindest regards,
Henry Keown-Boyd
I live in london and I am a member of the Sudanese Sailing Clube, I have been there several times during my visit to khartoum past month, the two gun boats (Melik and Bordein) need a desperate help also the Autumn coming in Sudan very soon and the flood will start in a few mothes coming.
What a gem……You have opened up even more information for me as I just came upon this site while re-trawling the family history.
My great grandfather Private Thomas Byrne (21st Lancers) was involved in the Battle of Omdurman (2nd Sept 1898) recieving the ‘Victoria Cross’ after he bravely rescued Lieutenant the Honourable R F Molyneux.
Unfortunatly this medal is no longer with the family.
Dear Mrs Perricone, As a Trustee of the Melik Society I am currently occupied in proof-reading a new edition of Winston Churchill’s wonderful account of the Kitchener expedition of 1886-88 which he called The River War. I look forward to reaching the stirring part played by your great grandfather.
In the meantime if you have any photographs or documents you would be prepared to make available to the Melik Society concerning Pte Byrne VC we would be extremely grateful.
Kindest regards
Tony Uloth
Dear Henry K-B and Melik Society colleagues,
I’m currently in Khartoum doing research on Gordon and the Mahdiyya for my new book. I visited the BNSC yesterday morning and got some nice pictures in good light. Would you be interested in having them? I certainly see the scale of the challenge in restoring her – particularly the large trees nearby whose roots must by now have grown through the hull. Still, a pretty sight and pride of place at the centre of the club.
Best wishes to all,
Fergus Nicoll
An interesting site and and interesting and unusual period of our history. I stumbled across the site whilst looking at the papershipwright site, who incidently produce a good card model of the Melik. Do any proceeds of the sale of the above go to the society?
Looking at the model I suddenly realised that this was the vessel visited by Joanna Lumley on her recent TV docummentry and followed the link on Papershipwright to your site.
I wish you all the best on your endeavours to save both vessels
Thank you for an informative website. In my younger days, before joining the Sea Scouts (Kashafa Al Bahriyya) next door to the BNSC, I used to go fishing with friends on the deck of the Melik. At the time (c. 1969) I thought there used to be two 2 polished brass Maxim guns on the upper front or rear deck. These were facing forwards, unlike the original layout shown in the historical pictures. Hopefully they are being stored somewhere! Anyhow, I remember happy days fishing for Nile perch with friends from the deck. Another book to add to your reading material is Omdurman by Philip Ziegler.
Kind Regards,
Bushra
Tony Uloth
I have to apologize as I have only just recently found this wonderful site again. I wrongly thought any response would have come through to my e-mail address.
Yes…. I have copies of various photos & accounts (even the reports written for the newspapers then, by the young reporter Winston Churchill) collected by my family, mainly due to my brother.
Can I also say a big thank you to Jim Green for his mention of the fantastic Joanna Lumley ‘Nile’ series. My husband & I had watched this, but not the episode with ‘The Melik’ at Khartoum, which also mentioned the ‘Battle of Omdurman’. As luck has it that was repeated again recently & I found it extremely moving.
Kind Regards
Jan Perricone …….. jan.perricone@ntlworld.com
I was in Khartoum in the late 1960s, as a child.My parents were members of the sailing club. I spent meny happy hours on the Melik, her stern was coverd in old seagull outboards!
My parents were Sandie and Margaret Robertson,living in uk