Faced with walking away or somehow finding new premises and working on an unpaid basis, Marshall opted to “get on with it”, pouring his own funds into the project to keep it afloat.
“Stormbird”, which is sea-worthy though so far untested, is one of the star attractions at the JORVIK Viking Festival in York.
Visitors can marvel at its historical accuracy and expertly crafted woodwork, including decorative features such as carved roses and a mythical dragon-like creature.
More than 60 veterans have worked on the boat, some of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Every time I come down here I just crack on and I just forget,” said Angie Reid, 58, although she did not want to elaborate on her experiences.
The former army medic, who has added decorative work to the boat’s gunnels, said issues of mental health and even suicide were very real for ex-service personnel.
Marshall said difficult “mega” projects like the longboat helped crowd out the destructive thinking that plagues PTSD sufferers.
“If you get PTSD… it’s a big powerful thing. It needs knocking out, it’s got to be moved aside so the only way you can move it is taking a bigger target,” he said.
“It’s such an engaging project that they think about it at night and if you’re thinking about woodwork at night it’s putting bad thoughts to one side.”
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