Waverley Grand Draw 2025
The results of the Waverley Grand Draw 2025.
Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
The results of the Waverley Grand Draw 2025.
It was with great sadness that we heard earlier this week about the passing of our joint Patron, Prunella Scales at the age of 93. It was particularly poignant as it was less than a year ago since her husband Timothy West, our other joint Patron passed away. Prunella was an outstanding English actress, best…
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The Waverley Autumn Draw 2025 was organised by the London & home Counties Branch. The draw took place on 25 October at the Society’s National Annual General Meeting held in the Princess Royal Gallery at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The winning tickets were drawn by our President, Douglas McGowan MBE. The winners have all been notified…
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2025 was not a good summer season for the CGN paddle steamers on Lake Geneva with only the diesel electric Italie and Vevey in service during the peak weeks out of a total of eight paddlers on the lake. To find out more click here: Season 2025 Lake Geneva – Kingswear Castle
The Dampferzeitung magazine has asked the managements of paddle steamers on a number of the Swiss lakes for their assessments of how the 2025 season has panned out for them. To find out more: 2025 Season in Switzerland – Kingswear Castle
Three cruises are planned this summer season to raise funds for Phase 2 of KC’s major Rebuild Appeal. For more details click here: 19th March 2024: KC 2025 Fundraising Cruises – Kingswear Castle
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year. But she did make it to Dartmouth to meet KC on Saturday 30th September and on Monday 1st September was able to run from Dartmouth at 10.45 with a call at Torquay at 12.15 to Weymouth where she…
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The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year with fresh to strong winds causing many cancellations. However she did make it to Dartmouth in the late afternoon of Saturday 30th August where she met up with and steamed alongside KC. Here are some pics of the…
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On her voyage north about to the South Coast Waverley made a call at Dundee on Wednesday 27th August. For more details click here: Waverley Calls at Dundee – Kingswear Castle
KC returned to service for the 2025 season on Tuesday 1st July. To have a look at some pics of her first trip check out a post on the KC website: KC 1st July 2025 – Kingswear Castle
Waverley returned to the Clyde on Thursday June 26th after a highly successful visit to the Mersey and Bristol Channel. She started her main summer season on the Clyde the following day. To see some pics of her arriving at Greenock at 11.15 on Sunday June 29th check out the post on the KC website:…
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Work is scheduled to begin today scrapping Kingswear Castle’s sister Compton Castle in Truro. Compton Castle to be Scrapped – Kingswear Castle
PSPS Chairman John Allen took these pics in Dresden following a recent trip aboard the veteran coal fired paddle steamer Kaiser Wilhelm from Magdeburg on Wednesday June 11th to Dresden, where the ship was greeted by the paddle steamer Diesbar, with overnight stops at Rosslau, Witttenberg and Reisa along the way. This pic shows Kaiser…
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National Historic Ships UK Flagship 2025 Sir Walter Scott received her Flagship Pennant at a ceremony on Loch Katrine on Saturday 7th June. To find out more: http://kingswearcastle.org/news/nhs-uk-flagship-sir-walter-scott/
Following the withdrawal of La Suisse on 3rd June after the discovery of a crack in her HP cylinder mounts, added to the delays to work being carried out on the paddle steamers Montreux, Savoie and Rhone on Lake Geneva, means that there will be a significant reduction in paddle steamer sailings on Lake Geneva…
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Forty years ago on May 18th 1985 KC was returned to service with full Passenger Certificates by the team at Chatham after twenty years out of service. To find out more check out the KC website: 16th May 2025: 40 Years Ago – Kingswear Castle
On Thursday 22nd May 1975 Paddle Steamer Waverley undertook her “2nd maiden Voyage” when she sailed from Glasgow to Dunoon with invited guests at the start of her preservation career. Two days later she sailed from Glasgow to Ardrishaig on her first public sailing on charter to the PSPS. Today 50 years on and she…
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The SGV at Lucerne have announced that their paddle steamer Uri is to have another rebuild. For more details of how the company has fared in the last financial year and its plans for the future take a look at a post on the KC website: PS Uri to be Rebuilt – Kingswear Castle
VE Day on 8th May 1945 started to unlock the doors and focus minds on a return to peace time excursions. To find out more check out the post on the KC website: VE Day Unlocks Doors – Kingswear Castle
Waverley left drydock at Greenock around 2pm on Wednesday 16th April. For more pictures check out the post on the Kingswear Castle website: Waverley Leaves Drydock – Kingswear Castle
Both Italie and Vevey are currently rostered to run on Lake Geneva this February and March. To find out more: Paddling on Lake Geneva Feb/March 2025 – Kingswear Castle
For 2024 Waverley was given the prestigious title of Flagship of the Year by National Historic Ships UK in recognition of her ambitious sailing programme. Throughout the season Waverley flew a special Flagship Pennant above the bridge to denote her national status and received an engraved brass plaque which is on display in the Dinning…
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2024 was the 180th anniversary of the birth of Capt John Davey whose long career at sea included commanding his own sailing ship Hilda along the coast of China to Shanghai before coming home to settle down as a Director of the Devon Dock Pier and Steamship Company owners and operators of the Exmouth based…
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For the 2025 season the SGV have announced a new role for their paddle steamer Gallia. She will be offering an exclusive four hour cruise on Lake Lucerne every day from 15th May to 15th September for a limited number of guests under the banner “Legends of Lake Lucerne – The Supreme Steamboat Experience”. INCLUDED…
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Three new paddle steamer captains for the CGN on Lake Geneva, Mrs. Sophie Aymon, as well as Mr. Dominique Jaunin (left) and Mr. Rémy Gerber (right) were sworn in on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 by the Prefect of the Lausanne district, Mrs. Clarisse Schumacher Petoud. The CGN now has a total of 31 sworn captains…
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The official report has now been published into the damage caused to the CGN’s paddle steamer Simplon lying alongside the tiny pier at Cully on Lake Geneva in a storm on the night of Good Friday 29/30th March 2024. For more details click here: PS Simplon Report Published – Kingswear Castle
This is proving to be a busy winter for paddling on Lake Geneva. Not only have Rhone, Vevey and Italie been out on their weekend tourist trips from Geneva and in the eastern part of the lake but also Vevey, now joined by Italie, have been filling in on the main ferry services from Lausanne…
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The Results The Waverley Grand Draw 2024 raised the remarkable sum of £19711, and thanks go to everyone who supported the draw in any way, whether through selling or buying tickets. The sum raised will be used for the preservation of the ship. Waverley’s Chief Purser, Andrew Comrie, drew the winning tickets at the Scottish…
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Tim and Pru relaxing in the Jeanie Deans Lounge with Jean McGowan (centre) Douglas McGowan, Society President writes: It was with great sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our Patron, Timothy West CBE aged 90. His health had recently deteriorated and he passed away in hospital. Along with his wife, Prunella…
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Folkestone was an occasional calling point for paddle steamers of yesteryear. To check out the last paddle steamers to call there before Waverley appeared on the scene have a look at a post on the KC website: Last Paddle Steamer at Folkestone – Kingswear Castle