Author: Roy Tait+

A Fund Raising Concert in support of the operation of P.S Waverley is being held at Adeladie’s – Bath Street, Glasgow (just at corner with Pitt Street) Friday 22 May, 2009 7:45 – 10:30 Tickets £8 Available from Tickets Scotland 0870 220 1116 or book on-line at http://www.tickets-scotland.com/ (and scroll down to the date) More…
Read more

PSPS and Clyde steamer enthusiasts were well represented at Bob Thomson’s funeral in Glasgow today. This picture was on the cover of today’s special hymnsheet. – for many it will represent Bob as we knew him and will remember him. Farewell old friend, thanks for the chat and the shared good times through the years

It is with great regret that the branch advise the death of Mr Bob Thomson – a long term supporter of Waverley and Balmoral. Bob died in the early hours of Saturday morning after a period of illness and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The Scottish Branch would like to extend…
Read more

Focus On Main Engine Equipment (Words G. Stewart – Pics Dave Elms & G. Stewart) This is the second of a series of articles charting the progress of the rebuild of Clydebuilt paddler PS Medway Queen – Dunkirk Veteran. The previous article focused on the the various engine parts arriving at Abel’s Albion Dockyard in…
Read more

A quick update on the ongoing works to Waverley’s two boilers which are undergoing a complete re-tube due to small areas of corrosion found at either end of each tube whilst carrying out the boilers’ ten year inspection. The following photos – taken by Waverley Steam Navigation’s Dr Joe McKendrick – show the arrival and…
Read more

Waverley’s proposed sailings from Oban in May have had to be postponed due to the time required to effect the repairs to her boilers. The complete Western Isles programme has been moved to the final weekend in May – details can be found here. Read the Official Press Release here. If you have any questions…
Read more

Following on from Stuart’s Chairman’s Blog I thought it time bring everyone up to date. Waverley’s band of enthusiastic volunteers have been working hard on everything from boiler cleaning, electric motor testing, painting and varnishing to deck caulking. What is deck caulking some may ask? Read on… One of Waverley’s many traditional features are her…
Read more

Queen Mary as Queen Mary II after changing her name to allow Cunard to use it for their new liner. Queen Mary leaving Rothesay (between 1965-68 with Single Funnel). She may not be a paddle steamer but the 1933 Denny of Dumbarton built turbine steamer Queen Mary has had a connection with our Waverley practically…
Read more

YOUR SHIPS NEED YOU!!! Please see the note below from Waverley Excursions, who are looking for direct assistance from the members of The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. I guess some previous bar work / catering work would be helpful, though not essential. Being smartly turned out, diligent and reliable, however, is. As well providing much…
Read more

Artist Ted Marle’s painting of Waverley in Garvel Dry Dock now hangs in Greenock Town Hall. Read the whole article on Inverclyde Now here. Gavin Stewart

This weekend the branch will attend the annual Rails & Sails event held at the Glasgow Museum of Transport. Come out of the cold and into the Museum of Transport this January and enjoy a weekend of hands-on family fun.Have a go at model boating with the Richmond Model Boat Club’s big indoor pond.Or what…
Read more

(Words Stuart Mears, Pics John MacFarlane & Chris Hendry) Gavin, my Jiminy Cricket for writing articles for the Blog has been pestering… err… motivating me to write a wee article on winter work parties on Waverley, specifically the first party of the season which was last Saturday. My first thought was “How would I know…
Read more

Yes, its that time of the year again – time to begin the process of getting our old ship ready to sail in 2009! Work parties start on board Waverley at her berth adjacent to Glasgow Science Centre tomorrow at 10am. Car parking is via the Science Centre – you will be given a token…
Read more

As of 1st January 2009 the Society have increased the membership rates: Please refer to top left hand side column for the new rates. This is the first rate increase for around 10 years and is required to meet the ever increasing costs of running the society thus ensuring that we can still deliver value…
Read more

Here’s hoping that 2009 will bring some much needed sunshine and great passenger numbers to support the continued operation of our favourite ships. A festive paddle steamer shot from Lake Lucerne with Santa climbing into the paddlebox of the former paddle steamer Wilhelm Tell which is now operated as a static restaurant. [signature name=”Charles McCrossan”]

(click on a pic to enlarge) For the second year in a row, our Scottish Branch Festive Cruise was held in the finest weather for this time of year. Flat Calm, Cold, Crisp, Sunny, and Bright. Our river looked like the best ever tourist brochure photographs for Scotland! With ticket sales for this year topping…
Read more

A very Merry Christmas to paddle people everywhere from the PSPS Scottish Branch!!

Part 1 – Machinery arrives in Bristol (words by G Stewart, Photos by Dave Elms) Back in September it was announced by the Medway Queen Preservation Society that a contract had been placed with David Abels (Boatbuilders) in Bristol to manufacture a new rivetted hull for the 1924 Clydebuilt paddler Medway Queen. Machinery has now…
Read more

Yes folks it getting towards that time of year again – you know – the one where we all eat and drink far too much, watch the Wizard of Oz and The Great Escape for the zillionth time on Christmas Day and then eat Turkey for the next month!! Well how about getting away from…
Read more

A quick note to thank Scottish Branch Committee Member Charles McCrossan for his part in the organisation of a new venture to raise funds for the Waverley. (A number of Scottish Branch members also assisted but I’ll not try to mention them in case I leave someone out) On 28th November a special concert was…
Read more

Just a quick reminder that TOMORROW (Friday 28th November) is a very important date. A brand new type of Waverley fund raising event is taking place in Glasgow tomorrow night. It’s a Fund Raising Concert at St. Andrews in the Square… see here for details. A lot of people have put a lot of hard…
Read more

The branch will have its usual stand at Greenock’s annual Model Rail Exhibition – held in the Town Hall on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th November. Opening times as follows: Sat: 1000 – 1700 Sun: 1200 – 1700 A good mix of Branch Committee members and volunteers will be on the stand over the course…
Read more

Hi Folks, Unfortunately there was a problem with the domain name change and we have had to revert to our original address. Please accept our apologies – we will find out what the problem was and give another go in the future!! PSPS Scottish Branch

We are in the process of switching to a custom domain. When this is complete the existing address will still work but viewers will be able to access the site using the following addresses: pspsscotland.com, pspsscotland.net Whilst this transition takes place access to the blog will be limited and some posts will not display. Apologies…
Read more

Whilst enjoying a cruise round the Isle of Wight in September we were aware of a helicopter approaching. This turned out to be a MedEvac exercise of which Waverley would be the focal point. The following videos (shot from my mobile phone hence the quality) were taken during the exercise. (May take a while to…
Read more

A Fund Raising Concert has been arranged for Friday 28th November at ‘St Andrews in the Square’ – just down from Glasgow Cross.

I have already recorded MV Balmoral’s unusual calls on Sunday 28th September 2008 and related the sad story of being taken unawares when she berthed at a different point to that expected, resulting in disappointing photographs of the special occasion. However, one of the River Clyde’s prolific shipping photographers, John Newth, was in the right…
Read more