Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
Another short piece from Robin Copland. On the 23rd of August 1954, I had yet to reach my first birthday, so I am fairly certain that standing on my own two feet was not yet one of my major strengths. The power of speech still eluded me, though doubtless I exercised my vocal chords…
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Writing an obituary for a friend and former workmate is never easy. Having to write obituaries for two is particularly sad, yet having scarcely finished John Lees’ obituary I learned that Ken Angell had also passed away. Ach…
Sunday May 1st will go into the diary as one of the best days I have ever had on Waverley ever!The forecast strong winds did not appear to have materialised as we boarded Waverley amidst glorious sunshine at Oban’s North Pier. Today’s cruise would take us to the Isle of Coll passing the Treshnish Isles…
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On Friday evening (22nd April) the STV News reported the following: “The operators of the Waverley have warned that high fuel prices, combined with a drop in passenger numbers following a string of washout summers, could force the end of a decades-old tradition”. To read more and watch the report click the following link: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/244802-waverley-steamer-launches-appeal-as-costs-rise/ Paul Semple
Easter Saturday saw the world’s only sea going paddle steamer boarding passengers for a trip to the Isle of Rum via Tobermorey. After a night of strong winds and heavy rain showers the morning was grey and overcast as Waverley backed away from Oban North Pier but by the time she had tied up at…
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,Good Friday saw Waverley embark on her annual programme of sailings amidst the scenery of the Western Isles of Scotland.After a delayed start at Glasgow the ship made calls at Greenock & Campbeltown before heading round the Mull of Kintyre after which she altered course for Colonsay via The Sound of Islay. Shortly after a…
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With Waverley due to depart Glasgow in a matter of days for her annual visit to the Western Isles I feel it appropriate to be reminded of the magic of sailing such waters aboard a Paddle Steamer. Waverley may have made her first visit to the Western Isles in 1981 but for me my first…
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A personal obituary to “Big John” Lees by Jim Harrison.
It was with great sadness that I learned this week that John Lees, Waverley’s Donkeyman of many years, passed away last week.
On behalf of the Scottish Branch Commitee may I wish you all a Happy New Year! Lets hope that season 2011 is a good one. Well winter is once again upon us – what do you mean I hear you cry – its been here for weeks!! The deep freeze set in earlier than last…
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As mentioned in the current winter issue of Paddle Wheels MPV Vevey has been withdrawn from service on Lake Geneva which leaves 5 operational paddle steamers on Lake Geneva. In 2011 there will once again be 5 operational paddle steamers on Lake Lucerne when Unterwalden re-enters service in the spring. Unterwalden last sailed in 2008…
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As 2010 enters its final fortnight we reflect that next year will see the opening of the new £80m Riverside Museum (of Transport and maritime heritage) on Pointhouse Quay at the confluence of the Rivers Clyde and Kelvin. The titanium and glass clad museum building occupies the site of a famous Glasgow shipyard, the Pointhouse…
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The last passengers of the season stream off Waverley at Glasgow Science Centre as the 2010 season came to an end on Sunday 17th October.Great to see the “early buds” of the new season in 2011 already peeping through the WEL website – click on the moving banner above for further details.12 days in the…
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I reckon this Waverley video dates from circa 1990. It has been split into 5 parts for loading up to YouTube. Links to all five parts are given below although you can also navigate between them if you go onto the YouTube site. Its amazing to think that 2 decades have passed since this…
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It gives me great pleasure to inform you all that Balmoral was successful and has won the £50,000 grant towards the refurbishment of her Britannia Lounge. Congratulations to all involved!!! Gavin StewartScottish Branch Chairman
Gerry Ward’s video of Waverley during Summer 2010. Great shots pity the weather was not more ‘summery’
MV Balmoral, the Glasgow-owned, Bristol-based historic excursion vessel has been short-listed for a £50,000 grant from the 2010 ITV Peoples Millions competition. If successful the grant will be used to assist refurbishing the vessel’s Britannia Lounge (named after the Clyde-built P&A Campbell paddle steamer Britannia), the main passenger lounge located on the main deck, forward.…
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Excellent Gerry Ward video of Waverley escorting the Queen Victoria on the Cunarder’s first Visit to Clydeside in July 2010. The Queen Victoria’s arrival on the Clyde kindled memories of a story related to the first Cunard Queen, the Clydebank-built Queen Mary. Prior to her all of Cunard’s transatlantic liners had borne names ending with…
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There is now a large number of videos of Waverley on the internet video website YouTube. Some depict the ship in her pre-rebuild days and a few of these are digitised versions of old cine film from pre-camcorder days. At the other end of the scale are amazing quality material produced by the latest HD…
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This YouTube video is a tribute to the diesel electric paddle vessel Vevey which ‘retired’ on 30 September 2010 after 103 years service on Lake Leman, joining DEPV Italie and DEPV Helvetie in the laid up fleet at their owner’s shipyard in Lausanne, Switzerland. The three diesel electric paddlers were all originally built as steamers but…
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[youtube][http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpkRskry_Ps/youtube]
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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Re following link – officially its not alllowed but its been going on since my first paddle steamer trip in Switzerland in 1975 and probably much longer. Youths of the lakes, especially Lake Leman, surf on top of the large rudders of the lake steamers until distance from shore or a swift turn of the helm…
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Jim the Purser, on the paddlebox of his beloved Waverley, at the Isle of Tiree (picture by Helen Strachan) Waverley’s final sailing of the 2010 season on Sunday 17th October brought the retiral of one of her longest serving crew members, Chief Purser Jim MacFadzean, after 23 summer seasons ‘Just Behind the Funnels’…
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To Dr Moore’s widow Mona and the family we wish to record our sincere thanks for all of the hard work that he performed on a completely voluntary basis over the last 3 decades and offer our condolances on your sad loss – he will be long remembered by his many friends on the Waverley. During her final sailings of…
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On Tuesday 12th October Waverley undertook a sell out cruise to view and escort newly delivered Cunard cruise ship Queen Elizabeth leaving Southampton on her Maiden Voyage. This is the second cunarder Waverley has escorted in 2010, the first being QE’s Vista class sister Queen Victoria when she visited Greenock in July. Photos can be found here &…
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As you may recall the PSPS were offered the former Humber Car / Passenger paddler Lincoln Castle earlier this year. For very real reasons the society council made the difficult decision not to take on the ageing vessel due to the level of work required to make her a viable entity for ongoing preservation whilst…
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After looking at the video clips suggested by Stuart I thought I could share some pictures taken of La Suisse when I visited Lake Geneva in 2009. The standards of the recent rebuild are very high and I was particularly impressed by the main dining saloon. I tend to take a number of interior photos as…
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Some interesting short High Definition videos of the recent circa £12m (if I remember correctly) rebuild and re-entry to service of the Lake Leman (Lake of Geneva) paddle steamer and flagship La Suisse, which has been celebrating her 100th year on the lake in 2010. The videos appear on YouTube and, as I could not…
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Another short story from Robin Copland – this time focussing on a trip more than a particular vessel. Photos are all copyright and cannot be duplicated elsewhere without premission of the holder. Buses have never done anything for me – really, they haven’t. It is funny how very early in your life, you take…
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