Sponsored by
Rival CDs launched as fund-raisers for the Adelaide
The fight to bring Wearside's most historic ship home has now become a battle of the bands.
Renowned musicians Pete Dodds and Paul Jackson have penned an ode to the 150-year-old City of Adelaide clipper ship.
The Sunderland City of Adelaide Recovery Foundation (Scarf) plans to sell a CD of the song to raise funds.
But a rival crew from Australia has produced their own song to cheer on their efforts to take the Wear-built clipper Down Under.
Aussie songwriter Steve Foster thinks his home town of Adelaide, South Australia, is the natural home for the ship and declared a battle of the ballads.
Steve, apparently confused by the Wearside accent, wrongly accused Scarf of calling in two Scotsmen to write its song.
"(The ship's) got our crest on it, the same crest as on the town hall. It's really our boat," he told an Australian newspaper.
"Now someone from Sunderland is trying to keep the boat there and they, in their wisdom, have called on Scottish guys to write a song to keep it there, so now we've got a song war."
Scarf chairman Peter Maddison said he did not "wish to be unkind" about the Australian song, but it lacked the authenticity and experience of the Sunderland tune.
He said he felt Foster's piece was overly "sentimental" and feedback from Scarf supporters was more in favour of Jackson and Dodds' piece.
"People are already asking where they can buy a CD from," said Mr Maddison.
"About eight or nine musicians are getting together to record the song and we hope that in a fortnight's time, it will be available.
"Paul and Peter have donated the song, but we are looking for a sponsor to help cover studio and other costs. We're also looking for a manufacturer who could press the CDs for us."
The Adelaide was built on the Wear in 1864, designed to carry immigrants to Australia.
But neither Adelaide nor Sunderland looks like it will get its trophy. The Scottish Maritime Museum is planning to "deconstruct" the vessel, as it can no longer afford to keep her.
For more details, visit www.cityofadelaide1864.co.uk or call Peter Maddison on 565 6997.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: West
