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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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(Words G Stewart, Video Footage S McKechnie) The branch are always keen to involve it’s members where ever possible. I first met Stephen a couple of years back when he partcipated in our Voluntary Assistance survey and he has been very active helping out every since. Stephen can be seen throughout the sailing season camera…
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(Words by Gavin Stewart. Photographs by Alistair Black) I think it would be fair to say that Balmoral has visited a good few unusual places during her 20+ years under the Waverley Steam Navigation flag. One such place was Gourock – headquarters of Caledonian Macbrayne – former owners of her fleetmate Waverley. After completing her…
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The motor ship Balmoral is also operated by Waverley Excursions and sails in support of the PS Waverley. Since Lochranza pier re-opened, there have been a number of planned sailings to Lochranza by the Balmoral during her normal September weekend visit to the Clyde but none of these have actually taken place, mostly due to…
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(photos by the Author & Shelagh Holt) Greetings Paddle People! Just thought I’d tell you a quick story of our last cruise to Brodick on Waverley for 2008. This took place on Thursday 28th August which also doubled up as a belated Birthday celebration for Scottish Branch Assistant Secretary or Waverley Pint Sized Painter (and…
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You may have heard of “caber tossing” or “haggis hunting” but have you ever heard of “toilet-roll hurling”? Regular Waverley passengers on the last sailing of the season to Lochranza are assured that this is a traditional ritual exercised each year, when the last Steamer of the season has called at Lochranza, over the past…
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The second oldest of Switzerland’s 15 operational paddle steamers is due to be taken out of service later this month to undergo a major refurbishment. The Lake of Lucerne Paddle Steamer Unterwalden was built 106 years ago by the Zurich-based firm of Escher Wyss. Remarkably, the steamer is still operating with its original boilers, although…
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Major Step in Restoration of Dunkirk Veteran (Words by Gavin Stewart, Photos from Author’s Collection) In the last week or so news has emerged that Paddle Steamer Medway Queen is to have a new hull built by David Abels (Boatbuilders) of Bristol. Partnership funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Medway Queen Preservation Society…
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Well folks, thats Waverley’s Clyde Summer Season at an end already. Its been a mixed bag of a season – especially weather wise – but amidst the numerous challenges our ship and her crew have remained positive and worked hard. The ship is now heading to the South Coast of England for her annual sailings…
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When you see Waverley going about her business in one of her many sailing areas throughout the cruising season what do you see? Well…..the most obvious things are her two red, white and black funnels – rising proudly from the deck – their rake making the ship look like she is doing 18 knots standing…
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Yesterday, Sunday 24th August, on the return leg of the sailing to Lochranza, The Scottish Branch was pleased to welcome back one of it’s lapsed, formally stalwart members who has spent a few, though too many years in the wilderness, Mr Willie Ross. Willie has been home from Deep Sea on shore leave for a…
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Is it really getting to that time already?? Yep!! The 2008 Clyde Season has only 11 – yes – 11 sailing days left before our wee paddler heads south for her traditional South Coast of England and Thames cruising programmes. The point of all this you ask?? Simple -if you haven’t been for a cruise…
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(Photos by John MacFarlane & Shelagh Holt) As you will have read previously Sunday August 10th was the annual members hospitality cruise held aboard ps Waverley during her usual Sunday cruise to Lochranza, Isle of Arran. The main objective of these hospitality cruises are to give the branch an opportunity to mix with it’s members…
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Just a quick blog this time you will be pleased to hear. Part (1) – Firstly a wee bit about the Hospitality Cruise we had on Sunday. I know there is going to be a posting specifically about this, so I will keep this bit brief so as not to pre-empt anything in that posting.…
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The Scottish Branch will be holding their annual Hospitality Event on board ps Waverley as she sails to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. These events are always popular and have recently been revised to include a Welcome audio visual presentation by our Branch Chairman in the ship’s Lower Bar after which members can relax…
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On the evening of 30th July 2008 Waverley visited the Ayrshire port of Ardrossan for the first time in over 20 years. During her years with the Caledonian Steam Packet Company in the 1960s she had visited Ardrossan Harbour quite frequently especially at holiday weekends when she assisted the Arran car ferries on the busy…
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