Scottish Branch celebrates – Twenty years ago in December 1989 the PSPS secretary Chris Phillips travelled to Glasgow to inaugurate the new branch. The Branch birthday party began when some 50 members gathered to board the waterbus Sir William Wallace for an adventure into the unknown. We headed downstream and – strange sensation- under Bell’s Bridge. These were familiar waters, but we saw them from an unfamiliar angle, continuing until the skipper decided it was time to execute a left turn into the River Cart. We knew we had reached the right place since there was a flotilla of small boats awaiting us, flying the skull and crossbones, and eager to accompany us up the river and into the heart of Paisley. Members of the Paisley Canal and Waterway Society had turned out in force to greet the first passenger carrying vessel to ply the waters of the Cart since 1966. On went the waterbus, past Glasgow Airport, under a motorway and into the Harbour itself.

Obituary – Nicholas Knight – Bill Prynne wrote: As caretaker chairman in 1963 it fell to me to initiate action to try to save the Medway Queen. This included calling a meeting to test public response to an appeal. The meeting was my first with Nick. Such was his impact, drive and enthusiasm that within weeks he was elected Chairman. He was tireless in his endeavours to achieve an acceptable form of preservation for Medway Queen, and I wondered how he had time to run a demanding business of his own as well as involving himself so deeply in the Society’s affairs. Later he became the mainspring of the KC restoration project. To Nick, the Society owes more than to anyone for today’s operation of KC. It was during his chairmanship that the decision to purchase was taken; it was Nick who arranged on very favourable terms the mooring on the Medway and his unbounded enthusiasm helped dispel thoughts of failure during those many years of painstaking restoration.

Nick Knight (left) accepts a £500 cheque towards the KC deck timber renewal fund by Rochester-upon-Medway City Councillor Peter Rodberg, 20th November 1982.|Victor Maynard

Waverley diary – Waverley undertook two September evening cruises from Southampton to the Needles in support of the 1989 BBC Children in Need Appeal. The flag of King Edward VI School, Southampton, which chartered the ship for both evenings was at the foremast while a Children in Need flag adorned the mainmast. Over 1,400 brought tickets and in view of their charitable purpose, Southampton Town Quay provided free berthing and Associated British Ports waived some of the pilotage costs. £7,000 was raised, £1,000 of which came from on-board raffles.

Come in number 65! – On 14th October KC ran her 65th Birthday Cruise. A flag bearing the legend ’65’ was flown and some passengers may have heard a passing yacht jokingly call out: ‘Come in number 65?’ A magnificent birthday cake was ceremonially cut by Capt. John Megoran. The following day another party cake made it’s appearance, this time for a charter by Stafford Ellerman to celebrate his retirement from the National Westminster Bank. Stafford was seconded by the bank to help with KC’s accounts. He invited friends and colleagues for a ‘Cruise on the Med’ and all enjoyed a marvellous afternoon. Stafford hopes to continue with KC’s books in retirement. (Compilers note: As indeed he still does.)

And 50 years ago… Consul left Weymouth bound for the River Dart; Portsmouth paddlers transformed from long established colours to new shades; Queensferry passenger ferries sold for scrap. Read more…