Whit Monday excursion – With the sun beating down from an azure sky, members and friends boarded PS Sandown for the light crossing to the Isle of Wight, the Society flag making a blaze of colour at the foremast. From the vantage point of the bridge, Queen Mary and Canberra were clearly seen in the distance.

Dart visit – 11th June saw the Society’s visit to the River Dart steamers. Totnes Castle made the run, and all three steamers were in their usual immaculate and attractively painted condition.

News from the Clyde – On the Clyde the four paddlers are back on their usual services for the summer season. On Monday 19th June Queen Mary II dropped her starboard outer propeller when approaching Dunoon pier. The following day Waverley took the all-the-way sailing whilst Queen Mary II was in dry dock, but the latter was back in service by 22nd June. At a press conference it was stated that Maid of the Loch was carrying only 120,000 passengers per year whereas 150,000 were needed to make her sailings pay. These passengers may be further reduced if Messrs. Denny & Co place the first commercial passenger hovercraft on the Loch.

London & Home Counties Branch – Members visited the Medway Queen during her winter refit and were entertained by the Managing Director of the New Medway Steam Packet Co., Mr W G Peake, and the Secretary, Mr F Marshall. Mr Peake presented to the Society a mounted Golden Eagle lifeboat nameplate. The branch excursion aboard Medway Queen on 24th June could not have been more successful with a cloudless sky and temperatures of 83°F on land around the Thames estuary.

Paddle Tug John H Amos – At least one paddle tug is safe for the time being. Paddle Wheels was recently assured that John H Amos, owned by the Tees Conservancy Commission would be retained for some time yet. It is extremely probable that she is the only paddle tug with a Class 5 passenger certificate for 150 passengers.

Torbay steamers – The Princess Elizabeth entered her second season on the Devon Coast on Whit Sunday. The all-day cruise to Lyme Regis is again proving a great success and is one of the longest sea excursions available to holidaymakers in Devon. Externally she remains almost unchanged since her days on the Southampton – Cowes run and latest reports indicate that the ship continues to do well.