Scottish notes – Waverley was slipped in mid-January and at Easter she performed the runs to Tighnabruaich. The weather was the coldest for years and on the Saturday even the majestic “Kyles” could only attract 24 customers. On Saturday 16th April she was on charter to the CRSC. Despite the weather, the cruise was magnificently patronised. She left Gourock with 345 passengers, picked up 204 at Helensburgh and was then blown over to Dunoon in a record breaking 20 mins. This was the first sailing from Helensburgh since 1951.

Caledonia lay at Greenock until February 22nd when she was slipped at Port Glasgow. In preparation for the Easter weekend she stored at Gourock, but because of high winds she lay at Craigendoran. She was on the Rothesay relief run all the weekend.

Talisman resumed the Sunday run to Millport on 6th March and performed relief duties until Easter weekend when she was on the Millport station. She damaged a bow plate after hitting a pier in high winds and had to go to Port Glasgow for repairs.

White Funnel notes – Westward Ho opened the season on the Thursday before Easter. There were two trips to Ilfracombe during the Easter weekend and the Monday trip was well patronised at all stages. The early-season day trip from Ilfracombe to Cardiff was reinstated, and involved Westward Ho leaving Barry at 7.10am, doing the day trip to Cardiff, then remaining at Ilfracombe overnight. Until mid-May, when Bristol Queen enters service, Westward Ho provides a daily service on the Cardiff/Barry – Weston ferry.

PS Queen of the South – After prolonged negotiations, it has now been announced that the former Jeanie Deans is to operate in the Thames Estuary, commencing on Whit Saturday, 28th May.

 
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Portsmouth paddlers – Sandown was, as expected, sold to Belgian breakers and arrived in tow, at Antwerp on 17th February. Ryde returned from Newhaven on 6th April. Owing to the fact that there are now only four ships available for Portsmouth – Ryde duties, there will not be a Solent cruise by the paddler this year.

Cosens & Co. – Embassy was due to go through the bridge from the Inner Harbour at Weymouth on 5th April and to proceed to Portland under tow on 7th April for below water line scraping and painting. Embassy will leave Weymouth on Whit Saturday for Poole Harbour and she will commence sailings from Bournemouth Pier on Whit Sunday on the sailings to Swanage.

Subscriptions – were due on 1st January

Life Membership ……….. 15 guineas

Full Membership ……….. 25/- p.a.

Junior Membership ……… 5/- p.a.