Ship Ahoy! – Maritime Exhibition
Ship Ahoy! 2015 will be held in the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine, on Saturday 11th April. The Museum will be open from 10am until 5pm. Normally there is an admission charge, however Saturday 11th April will be an Open Day, no charges being levied upon those who visit the Museum.
Among the participating organisations will be the Clyde River Steamer Club, West Highland Steamer Club, Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, Coastal Cruising Association, Scottish Maritime Museu, Clyde Built and Friends of Glenlee. An interesting selection of model ships and picture boards will also be on display with photographs and film from the bygone age of steam paddle boats.
To celebrate this year’s national Ship Ahoy! event, the visitor attraction is keen to hear from anyone with old photographs, video or memorabilia of the Waverley’s last visit to Irvine Harbour in 1979. Images of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world visiting Irvine Harbour during the local Marymass Festival in the summer of 1979 will go on show as part of the Ship Ahoy! exhibition,
Ship Ahoy! was originally created for shipping enthusiasts in 2013 and has quickly grown into a family event with adults and children of all ages enjoying a walk down memory lane with memorabilia, photographs, artefacts, model steamers and slide shows from the world of ships and shipping from the Clyde and the Western Isles of Scotland.
David Mann, Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, says: “We’re delighted to be able to support the growth of Ship Ahoy! and bring something extra to the event by making it possible for visitors to enjoy this riveting exhibition as well as the nationally important maritime collection across the Museum for free during the Open Day. We’re also proud to have attracted another significant public event to the Museum which has become a unique high quality venue for Ayrshire following the £1.25m restoration of the vast Linthouse building and its spectacular glass roof in 2012. We hope Ship Ahoy! will deliver a significant economic impact locally with visitors spending in the local area.”
The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine is housed within the category A listed former Engine Shop of Alexander Stephen and Sons, which was built in 1872 and salvaged and relocated from their derelict Linthouse shipyard in Govan during 1991. Irvine itself was once one of the major ports in Scotland after Glasgow.
The Puffers Café, which is another building adjacent to the Museum, will be providing tea, coffee and hot meals. There will also be a catering outlet in the Museum providing tea and coffee only. Ample free car parking will be available outside the Museum.
By rail: The museum is located only five minutes from Irvine Railway Station on the Glasgow-Ayr Line. Exit the station and turn left. Turn left again under the railway bridge. Walk down Montgomery Street and turn left into Linthouse Vennel where you will see the gate into the Museum.
The Scottish Branch of the PSPS looks forward to seeing as many members as possible on Saturday 11th April for Ship Ahoy! 2015 in the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine between 10am – 5pm (admission free.)