Author: Roy Tait+

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

River Clyde Guide Cards

A new set of informative guide cards covering the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde may be purchased on board Waverley from Friday.

Kingswear Castle Presented With IMechE Award

Earlier today the Institution of Mechanical Engineers presented Kingswear Castle with an Engineering Heritage Award as a mark of her unique place in British maritime history.

MV Balmoral – Bristol to Sharpness

Geoff Hale has produced another excellent Balmoral video documenting her journey on 13th May from Bristol to Sharpness.

Waverley Leaves Dry Dock

Waverley left Garvel Dry Dock today and returned to her berth at Pacific Quay in preparation for her 2014 season.

Waverley – Coming Alive Again

For the first time since October the Clyde echoed to the sound of paddle wheels as Waverley departed Pacific Quay for Greenock and her annual dry docking.

PS Medway Queen Open Day

On Saturday 26th April an open day was held in celebration of the Medway Queen’s 90th birthday. Martin Longhurst has shared some some interesting photographs of this event.

Appointment of WEL Chief Executive

Members may like to know the arrangements for appointing a replacement for Waverley Excursion’s Chief Executive, This gives anyone who has a serious interest and the qualifications for the role the opportunity to consider an application.

Ship Ahoy!

The second Ship Ahoy! maritime heritage exhibition took place today aboard The Tall Ship Glenlee. A number of organisations, including the Scottish Branch of the PSPS, were represented.

Wessex & Dart Branch Newsletter – Spring 2014

This is an abridged version of the quarterly newsletter circulated to Wessex & Dart Branch members.

“Clydebuilt: The Ships that Made the Commonwealth”

A new four-part television series starts on BBC Two Scotland on Monday 31st March.

Waverley – A Private Function

Earlier this evening Waverley hosted a private function. This presented a rare opportunity for a photograph.

Last Clyde Season of the ‘Jeanie Deans’

Fifty summers ago, in 1964, there were still four paddle steamers operating on the Clyde, the Jeanie Deans, Waverley, Caledonia and Talisman.

PSPS and the MV Balmoral

Statement Issued by Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited, Waverley Excursions Limited and PSPS Waverley Steam Navigation Ltd, owner of the classic coastal motor ship Balmoral and her operator Waverley Excursions Ltd. have, together with the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, agreed to MV Balmoral Fund Limited’s request to allow work on assessing the feasibility of returning…
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MV Balmoral – Message from PSPS Chairman

PSPS’ Council of Management has agreed to transfer approx. £6,000 directly to MV Balmoral Fund Ltd. once it gains charitable status, in a gesture of confidence in those now running the project to restore the ship. This is possible because the money was collected specifically for the ship and does not involve funds given to…
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General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a General Meeting of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society will be held at the Civil Service Club, 13-15 Great Scotland Yard, London, SW1A 2HJ on Saturday 22 March 2014 at 13.30 hours to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Special Resolution which will be proposed on behalf of…
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Paddlers on TV

Medway Queen has now arrived safely on the River Medway following her departure from Avonmouth.

Medway Queen Leaves Bristol

On Thursday 31st October Medway Queen was towed out of the Albion Dock, through the floating harbour and down the River Avon to Avonmouth. She will wait there until there is a suitable weather window, to allow the tow proper to commence. October/November is not a good time for a decent weather window, as the…
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AGM 2013 Outcomes

The 2013 AGM was held at the National Railway Museum, York on Saturday 26th October 2013. The meeting was attended by 62 members and ran from 13:30 until 17:05, with a 25 minute break for refreshments.

PSPS Grand Draw Results 2013

The draw took place on 26th October at the Society’s AGM at York and was made by Captain John Megoran, former skipper of P.S. Kingswear Castle.

Wessex Branch Grand Christmas Social Weekend

Invitation to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society Wessex Branch Grand Christmas Social Weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December 2013 At the Suncliff Hotel, East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3AG All PSPS and associated societies and group members, families and friends, are invited to attend the Wessex Branch Saturday Christmas Lunch and Sunday river cruise.…
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WSN Fundraising Sale

During August this year, the Friends of Wemyss Bay Station ran an exhibition of steamer prints and paintings, most of which were supplied by Ian McCrorie. The prints and paintings were then sold in aid of funds for Waverley. The remaining pictures have now been given to Waverley Steam Navigation Company to allow further funds to…
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Waverley – Back in Glasgow

On a wet Wednesday night Waverley passes Braehead at 20:00, 42 hours after leaving Weymouth, a voyage of about 560 nautical miles.

Medway Queen – On the Move

The Medway Queen preservation Society have issued the following press release: Following the re-dedication of the Medway Queen at the Albion Dockyard in July the workforce there has been busy with completion of the construction and finishing touches to our ship. Apprentices and instructors from the Medway Queen Preservation Society were also in Bristol for…
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PSPS Chairman Interviewed on BBC Radio 2

On Tuesday morning (8th October) PSPS Chairman Douglas McGowan was interviewed by Chris Evans on the Radio 2 breakfast show. Douglas gives an excellent interview which last for about 4 minutes. The radio programme is available on BBC iPlayer for a week after broadcast. The following link will open up the broadcast on iPlayer. Douglas is interviewed…
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Waverley September 1973

On Monday 30th September 2013 it will be exactly 40 years since Waverley was withdrawn from service with her future looking very uncertain.

Latest Balmoral Newsletter

The latest MV Balmoral Newsletter has been emailed to all those who signed up for it via the MV Balmoral website. To sign up for future editions just enter your email address at the bottom of the home page on the website.The latest MV Balmoral Newsletter has been emailed to all those who signed up for it via the MV Balmoral website. To sign up for future editions just enter your email address at the bottom of the home page on the website.

The current newsletter contains the following progress to date report:

Scottish Branch Winter Meetings 2013-2014

The winter syllabus for the Scottish Branch will be sent out in the next edition of Paddle Wheels but advanced notice is given below for each meeting. Friday 18th October – S.S. Shieldhall Graham Mackenzie, MD of The Solent Steam Packet Limited, gives an illustrated talk on the history and preservation of the former Glasgow…
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Ship Ahoy! 2014

Following the success of the Ship Ahoy Maritime Heritage Exhibition, which was held in April this year, the Ship Ahoy Team have decided to mount a similar exhibition, in a new venue, on Saturday 5th April 2014. The venue  for Ship Ahoy 2014 will be The Tall Ship sailing vessel Glenlee, which is moored on the…
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Clyde Summer Season 2013

Waverley has now arrived on the south coast having departed Glasgow on Monday 2nd September after making a brief call at Yarrows yard at Scotstoun to allow for her navigation lights to be replaced. The main Clyde summer season came to a conclusion after Waverley sailed back from Millport to Glasgow on Sunday (1st September). Overall the ship had…
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Balmoral Meeting Saturday 31st August

On Saturday 31st August at 2pm there will be a meeting held aboard Balmoral at her berth outside the M Shed in Bristol city docks. All supporters are invited to attend to hear of the latest developments for bringing the ship back into operation.