John Arthur Kemp

John Kemp
John Kemp, Millbeach, 1960s
Born	1926 London, England
Died	1987 Maldon, Essex
Occupation	Master mariner, educationalist, author
Nationality	English
Genre	Autobiography, novel, short stories
Notable works	A Fair Wind for London, God's Hungry Sheep, At The Wash of Oysters.

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. The Trust has been running for over 40 years, during which time many thousands of young people from Britain and around the world, have benefited from the experience that is provided. His earlier work on the preservation of Thames sailing barges was instrumental in the continued existence of the fleet today. He was also the author of three books and a prolific writer of newspaper and magazine articles.

The East Coast Sail 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 programme was dubbed 'A Week in Another World'. During their stay on board the schoolships, children and their teachers or youth leaders explored the east coast from the North Foreland in the south to Orfordness in the north, living on board and working the vessels under sail. The concept, developed by John Kemp and Jane Benham, was not sail training of the type practised by many similar organizations, nor was it overtly character-building.

Both of these however formed pasrt of an innovative educational concept: the 'floating classroom', in which children explored the communities, geography and ecology of the Thames estuary. Each crew-member had a study project, designed to challenge children of every ability and background. Pupils, generally aged between 13 and 18, voyaging under the East Coast Sail Trust flag, came from comprehensive schools in the most disadvantaged inner London boroughs, leading public and selective schools; and from Germany, the United States of America and Australia.

Funding for the East Coast Sail Trust's work came from a combination of national charitable appeals, masterminded by Mr George A Jones of Writtle, Essex, grants from councils and education authorities, and contributions from the students taking part. The Trust was overseen by a council, chaired through much of its early existence, by Mr H Gordon Parker, at the time Chairman of the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company.[1]