spirit of birmingham yacht

The Iron Room

Archives and Collections @ the Library of Birmingham

Lisa Clayton  – the Spirit of Birmingham

Front cover of the book with a portrait of lisa smiling with her haid down wearing a waterproof jacket alongside a photograph of stormy waves with a dark hilly coast.

I was walking past Birmingham Council House the other week admiring its civic grandeur when I suddenly had a recollection of a yacht on display outside the columned entrance to the building – it must have been at some point in the 1990s. That provoked my little grey matter (what’s left of it) to conjure up the name of Lisa Clayton – don’t know how I manged to do that – perhaps I just channelled Lisa for a few seconds. Such entertaining digressions from the standard dross occupying my consciousness prompted me to find out more. Why, I asked myself do we not know much more about Lisa Clayton and her achievements. This blog – in whatever minor way possible – is an attempt to redress the balance. 

Britain as an island nation has a strong and prestigious maritime heritage – there’s all that naval stuff and we do very well at sailing at the Olympics – but then I got to thinking about the success of female long-distance yachtswomen such as Dame Ellen MacArthur and before that, Clare Francis. And then of course, Lisa Clayton. What inspired her. Lisa became the first British woman to sail solo non–stop around the globe.

I’m sorry to report there aren’t too many materials held in Archives & Collections – I’ve chiefly had to rely upon Lisa’s account – At The Mercy of the Sea (1996) which in large part takes the form of a daily log and fax communications. Luckily, Archives & Collections holds a series of news cuttings about Lisa in our Birmingham Biography cuttings collection, lovingly gathered by library staff at the time.

Two open books showing photocopies of newscuttings. One From the Birmingham Evening Mail "She's Home" with two photos one of LIsa on the boat holding a glass of Champagne and kissing a man, the secomd a row of people waving and holding a large banner which states "well done Lisa!" The second cutting has a photograph of her smiling and dressed in evening wear holding a orndate silver platter as she recieves the Midlander of the Year award from the Deputy Lord Mayer who is also seen in evening wear including a bow tie, a medal and a carnation pinned to his lapel.

Some of the news cuttings on Lisa Clayton, Reference: Birmingham News Cuttings Collection

The Biography Bit

Lisa, now Dowager Viscountess Cobham was born in Birmingham in 1958. Educated at the Church of England School for Girls, Edgbaston and latterly Birmingham University, Lisa spent several years working in a chartered accountants’ office before moving to Horizon Holidays. There she was offered the opportunity to socialise in the world of sailing which appears to have ignited the aspiration to eventually sail the world. She had to plough a sizeable percentage of her savings into a vessel which had seen better days. Birmingham University allowed Lisa to store the vessel on their grounds so she could transform the yacht into a reliable and seaworthy 39-foot yacht she named The Spirit of Birmingham.

Lisa naturally endured numerous setbacks acquiring sponsorship until she encountered Peter Harding, her eventual project director. Lisa also managed to obtain financial support from Birmingham University. 

On 17 September 1994 after many trials and tribulations, Lisa set out to attempt two world records – the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by a woman single – handed without assistance and the first British woman to sail single – handed and non – stop around the world. 

When Lisa returned to Dartmouth on 29 June 1995 having covered 31,000 miles and after spending 285 days at sea, according to her book, she ‘became the first woman to make a full circumnavigation of the globe single – handed, non – stop and unassisted’. 

There was considerable public and press attention at the time – Lisa was greeted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham when she returned to Dartmouth. Latterly, Lisa was offered the status of Honorary Freewoman of Birmingham. It must have been not too long after this when the yacht was put on display in front of the Council House. Either my Swiss cheese memory is failing me, or I can remember seeing the yacht in Victoria Square. I can even recollect seeing a photograph of the yacht by the Council House somewhere in the archive. 

After the initial euphoria surrounding Lisa’s triumphs – not a lot. Well, I can’t recollect much more. It is nearly 30 years ago now,  so perhaps I just have no immediate recollection. 

Let us know on our Twitter account @TheIronRoom if you have any more information to share. 

Paul Taylor, Coordinator 

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Sp0686 : "the spirit of birmingham" outside council house 1995, taken 29 years ago , near to birmingham , england.

"The Spirit of Birmingham" Outside Council House 1995

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