Chairman's Blog No 15 - An Opportunity to Say A Heartfelt Thanks.

Scottish Branch Hospitality Event - Waverley - Sunday 7th August

I think it is fair to say that all parties are not joking when they say that this season is "Make or Break" for Waverley and Balmoral - but when looking from the outside in it is not immediately apparent how much volunteer work goes on behind the scenes by PSPS members (and non-members as well of course!) to keep our ships sailing - through thick and thin. Just being able to sail on the ships during the season is reward enough for our willing band of volunteers but it is nice to be able to offer our thanks in a small way when we can.
The Scottish Branch will be holding their annual Hospitality Event on board ps Waverley as she sails to Tarbert, Loch Fyne on the above date. This event is our way of saying thanks to our ever loyal members for their ongoing support of Waverley and the PSPS in general.
Arrangements have still to be finalised but we hope to include a Welcome presentation by our Branch Chairman (me!) in the ship's Lower Bar followed by a few words from Waverley Excursions Director and Volunteer Liason James McMillan, after which an AV presentation will be shown whilst members relax and chat over a cup of complimentary tea or coffee. Events in the lower bar will be followed by visits to the Engine Room and Bridge.
Whilst there is no charge for the actual Branch event you must purchase a cruise ticket from either the Waverley Excursions Website, by phoning 0845 130 4647 or from the Ship's Purser on the day.

Proceedings should begin just after Waverley has sailed from Rothesay and will come to a close to allow members to view the approach to Tarbert so if you want to come along make sure you join the ship at or before Rothesay -the timetable can be found here

This event is restricted to members only but if you want to join you can do so by following the link to the application form on the left hand column of the blog or you can join on board at the ship's shop. Why not join on the day and come and meet us?

Fancy it ? See you on Sunday 7th August then!!!

Gavin Stewart
Scottish Branch Chairman

Tarbert Take 2

With the weather being so good on Wednesday 13th July many passengers took advantage of it and joined Waverley for her 2nd visit this year to Tarbert (Loch Fyne). Those who did venture aboard were lucky enough to experience Waverley in all that she offers. The weather was perfect, the scenery stunning and the steamer provided the best way to appreciate it all. I thought a few more pictures of the paddler in such surroundings may be welcomed.

After a slightly delayed start the steamer left Largs with well over 500 aboard, deck space in the sun was at a premium. Once again a good number joined her at Tighnabruaich owing to the two coach loads waiting as she arrived. A good number of passengers took advantage of time ashore at Tarbert.

Tarbert marina in the afternoon sun

Arriving back at Tarbert

Berthing at Tarbert pier

On completion of the cruise and with all passengers landed at Largs Waverley was soon off to Greenock for her overnight berth before undertaking a private charter on Thursday 14th July.

Paul Semple

A Clyde Paddler & Two Traditional Clyde Piers

On 6^th July Waverley completed her first revised Wednesday run, the previous Wednesday was altered to a round Bute cruise after a delayed start. This was Waverley’s first call at Tarbert without the need for assistance from a small boat owing to the fact the pier has been in need of structural work for a few years. Over the past few months both Tighnabruaich and Tarbert piers have had works completed to ensure that Waverley can continue to use them. We owe a great deal to the individuals who have worked hard to ensure that these traditional Clyde piers remain open. Indeed the best way we can repay their efforts is to use these piers as much as possible.

Waverley’s schedule on a Wednesday this year takes her from Largs to Rothesay then through the narrows calling at Tighnabruaich before she enters Loch Fyne and on to Tarbert. A change also introduced this year is that the steamer then heads back down Loch Fyne to give splendid views of the North Arran coast and Lochranza.

As Waverley made her way towards the narrows she passed the sailing vessel Lord Nelson, pictured below.

Arriving at Tarbert for the first time in 2011

Tarbert for me is a must at least once a year on Waverley. It brings back memories of the first time I ventured on Waverley without adult supervision. The weather on Wednesday was similar to that day back in 1993, which I can still recall so vividly, with some patchy rain to begin but brightening up as the day went on. The pictures which follow show Waverley leaving and returning to Tarbert pier from her afternoon cruise. I would encourage all to take a trip on what is my personal favourite Clyde cruise. If you are not able to do mid-week sailings remember she is scheduled to call at Tarbert on Sunday 7^th August, which is also the Scottish Branch hospitality day.  

Full speed astern

Arriving back at Tarbert

Arriving back at Tighnabruaich
(Now complete with rubber fendering)

Paul Semple

Two Waverley Stalwarts

Above: Great to see them back aboard - Jim Clark (fiddle) and Ian Moffat (Accordian)

For a large part of her preservation years passengers aboard Waverley have been entertained by a wide variety of musicians. Jim Clark, accompanied by the late Len Edwards, and by Ian Moffat have combined the entertainment with raising funds to keep the paddler in service. It is estimated that Jim's efforts have raised in excess of £25,000 and he has been greatly missed by many Waverley supporters over the past couple of years in which has suffered some ill health.

It was a great boast to all Waverley's regular passengers and long serving crew members to see Jim back aboard during one of the paddler's early August sailings and even more so on her final sailing of 2009 to Tarbert in Loch Fyne on 25th August when Jim and Ian performed many old favouites and raised well over £200 in generous donations from the passengers.

On the second call at Tarbert on Tuesday it was announced that there is reason to hope that the paddler will be able to return to a full programme of calls at Tarbert. (The paddler's Tuesday itinerary to Tarbert is one of only 2 of the 2009 Clyde excursions that have operated since the start of the ship's preservation operation in 1975 but in the last couple of years she has only been able to call at certain tidal conditions). The East Pier at Tarbert has been in service for around 130 years having been built to accommodate the huge 300 foot long paddle steamer Columba, which was delivered from J & G Thomson's Clyde shipyard in 1878 to serve on the prestigious 'Royal Route' mailboat service from Glasgow to Tarbert and Ardrishaig, the latter at the eastern extremity of the Crinan Canal. Passengers from Columba could traverse the Canal on the small steamer Linnet, boarding another paddler (notably the Chevalier) for onward passage to Oban (where they could connect with other steamers to the Hebrides) or continue to Fort William and Corpach tho connect with the Caledonian canal paddle steamer for onward transit to Inverness.

As Waverley departed Tarbert for the last time in 2009 Jim and Ian played 'We're no' awa' tae bide awa' while passengers joined in the singing that reflected the sentiment of the occasion. Great to see both gentemen aboard again.

Above: View of the East (or Columba) pier at Tarbert, Loch Fyne from Waverley following her final departure of 2009


The longest Clyde paddle steamer of all, Macbrayne's Columba arriving Tarbert East pier


Stuart Cameron