18th March 1961 London & Home Counties Branch

Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle

18th March 1961 London & Home Counties Branch

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On Saturday 18th March 1961 the London & Home Counties Branch of the PSPS held its first meeting.

A committee was elected chaired by Bill Prynne. who I got to know quite well in subsequent years. He was ever supportive of me and all that we did at KC in the Medway years and regularly wrote me short notes complimenting us on this and that.

On board Kingswear Castle at Strood Pier before a cruise to celebrate the life of another of the Society’s past Chairmen Nick Knight. Bill Prynne is on the left, with John Megoran, Nick Knight’s wife, PSPS Chairman Nick James, PSKC Trust chairman Malcolm Cockell and Pat Bushell, who volunteered in the KC office.|John Megoran

Here is Bill Prynne next to KC nearly thirty years later. He was a nice man I thought. Patrick Taylor was also at that first meeting. He became a regular passenger on KC when we got her going and sailed with us until his death.

Branch Secretary Russell Horwood also took an interest in KC and was forever writing me and individual crew members long and detailed letters expressing his distinctive and personal views. He was an occasional passenger with us. I remember him particularly for his vintage and sometimes colourful ties.

Here he is on the extreme right with members of the Wessex Branch, including (L to R) Captain Thomas, Miss Thomas, Peter Ellis, Don Jones and Victor Gray, aboard Embassy in March 1961.

That was sixty years ago. Gosh!

John Megoran