Waverley The
WINTER 2012
| ISSUE 2
REGULARS Beautiful Destinations Steam on the Water Chairman’s Statement
The Magazine of the Friends of PS Waverley and MV Balmoral
PS Waverley: From Birth to 1973 The PSPS & New Beginnings THE STEAM ECONOMY
PIER OF THE YEAR 2012
WAVERLEY ACADEMY
Waverley Impact Assessment
Boarding at Swanage
The Weir Group Apprentices
© Chris Jones ‘Whistle’
WELCOME
Welcome to the second edition of Waverley Magazine with the Christmas holiday season before us and the annual refitting and refurbishment programme now underway. In this issue we examine the impact of steam propulsion technology on society during the Industrial Revolution in Steam on the Water (page 7) perhaps best encapsulated by these lines from Mark Twain’s memoir, Life on the Mississippi:
“When I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboatman. We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient….. These ambitions faded out, each in its turn; but the ambition to be a steamboatman always remained.” The famed author’s words draw into perspective the enormous practical and emotive influence of steamboats on the world in his day and how that technology was transforming the world. We are also delighted to share the findings of an independently commissioned Economic Impact Assessment (page 8) with our Friends of Waverley - our readers, passengers and supporters. The study reveals in quantitative terms an “off-board” economic benefit of almost £8 million per annum to the local communities we serve with our iconic pleasure steamers. Beautiful destinations from across six of our sailing areas (page 12), postcards from the past (page 15) and even the Pier of the Year feature (page 22) promise to keep you enthused both on board and off. And we celebrate the launch of Waverley Academy (page 25) as supported by The Weir Group plc and the two engineering apprentices who joined the programme earlier this month. Finally we offer a retrospective on PS Waverley’s journey up to 1973 (page 18) when even “the ship proven to have nine lives” appeared to have spun its paddles for the last time. We look forward to continuing our exciting journey with you in the New Year, encourage you to invite others to become Friends of Waverley and hope you enjoy the issue!
Nick James
Chairman, Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited
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Published by Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited (WSN) and Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL). Registered office address 36 Lancefield Quay, Glasgow G3 8HA. The views expressed in Waverley Magazine are those of invited contributors and not necessarily those of WSN and/or WEL. Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited (WSN) and Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL) do not endorse any goods or services advertised or any claims or representations made in any advertising in Waverley Magazine, and accepts no liability to any person for loss or damage suffered as a consequence of their responding to, or reliance on, any claim or representation made in advertisements appearing in Waverley Magazine. By responding or placing reliance, readers accept that they do at their own risk. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden without the written consent of Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited (WSN) and Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL).
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CONTENTS
Page 12 - DESTINATIONS Steam on the Water:
7
The Engine of the Industrial Revolution
Economic Impact:
The £7.8 Million UK Benefit 8
Legacies:
Getting the “Baby Boomers” On Board 11
Destinations:
Six Sights in Six Sailing Areas 12
MV ‘OAP’:
Balmoral Approaches Her 65th Birthday 14
Postcards:
Waverley’s First 25 Years 15
Volunteer:
The Paddle Steamer Needs You! 17
Feature:
PS Waverley: From Birth to 1973, The PSPS & New Beginnings 18
Boarding at Swanage:
Pier of the Year 2012 22
Weir Apprentices:
The Launch of Waverley Academy 25
Bookshop:
200 Years of Clyde Paddle Steamers 26
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ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR POOR INVESTMENT ADVICE? IS YOUR PENSION FUND GROWTH BEING HELD BACK BY EXCESSIVE FEES? HAVE YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER INCREASING THESE COSTS YET AGAIN? DID YOU ASK WHY? HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW MUCH YOU ARE NOW PAYING AND WHAT YOU GET FOR IT, AND THEN COMPARE THOSE NUMBERS WITH THESE:
3% 0.6% 0.0% 100% 3
The annual growth your investments and pension fund have to achieve each year to simply cover the total annual and switch fees now charged by many wealth managers.(1) The maximum annual management fee charged by Scotland’s’ largest independent wealth manager – Alan Steel Asset Management. The fees imposed by Alan Steel Asset Management on all portfolio and pension fund rebalances and fund switches.(2) The percentage of existing Alan Steel Asset Management clients who would recommend our wealth and pension management services to a friend or a family member.(3) The number of times Alan Steel Asset Management have been voted “Best UK independent investment advisers”. This is more than any other Wealth manager in the UK.(4)
01506 842 365
Or visit www.alansteel.com
The no obligation number to call today to find out how to get your investments and family wealth back on to a tax efficient, fair cost and better performing track.
Alan Steel Asset Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority registered in Scotland No. 58014 / VAT registration No. 446593714 / Nobel House, Linlithgow, EH49 7HU / Fax: 01506 845074 Assumes annual charge of 1% and 2 x 6 monthly portfolio rebalances at cost of 1%.
(1
(2)
Source: ASAM (3) Source: Moneymarketing magazine. (4)Source: ASAM.
Steam on the Water
When I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboatman. We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient. When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns…now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates. These ambitions faded out, each in its turn; but the ambition to be a steamboatman always remained. Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
At the heart of industrialisation in the latter part of the 18th century was the successful development and application of steam technology. The full story goes back over 200 years to 1812, when Henry Bell’s Paddle Steamer Comet first churned the waters of the Clyde. The engineers and entrepreneurs of the era, James Watt, Mathew Boulton, Robert Fulton and many others, made steam power a practical reality. And in many ways the emergence of Britain as the most powerful trading nation on the planet at that time, came through the creation of three new technologies; the steamship, the railway and the electric telegraph. The Industrial Revolution was quite literally driven in part by the father of the steam engine, James Watt, whose brilliance powered factories, mills, and pumps both in Europe and America by the end of the eighteenth century. Many carried forward James Watt’s mantle. In 1807, when Robert Fulton employed a 20-horsepower James Watttype engine to drive a paddlewheel crankshaft on his now famous Clermont, the Pennsylvanian’s steam-powered phenomenon suddenly began to make the world a smaller place. Ships in Fulton’s day had, in the main, measured propulsion in terms of wind, currents and muscle. And despite increasingly efficient and practical designs the seas and oceans presented enormous barriers to travel. Acceptance of innovation is often hard-earned. And as the 100-ton Clermont first began operating on the Hudson River between New York and Albany, burning pine wood for fuel instead of coal, she was described as “a monster moving on the waters, defying wind and tide, and breathing flames and smoke.” She travelled 130 miles on her first voyage, and at five miles per hour travelled faster than any steamboat had before.
It would be two years before Colonel John Stevens’ Phoenix would ‘push the boat out further’ pioneering the first steamer sea voyage in 1809 by travelling from Hoboken to Philadelphia. The news inspired people on both sides of the Atlantic to dream of conquering the ocean under steam power. And so the race to cross the Atlantic began. Within a decade the Americans appeared to have won out with the Georgian steamer Savannah, eponymously named after the US state’s strategic port city, who would be the first to cross the Atlantic in 1819. However, only a fraction of the distance to St. Petersburg via Great Britain and the Northern European ports was covered by the ship under steam power. The Savannah consumed all the fuel she carried on board before reaching Ireland and had to return to the US under sail alone. To put steam into perspective, prior to this new travel technology it took 120 days to “pole” flatboats from New Orleans to St. Louis in America, a journey of 1,300 miles. By 1826, steamboats had reduced that same passage down to nine and a half days. Within 4 years some 230 steamers were churning America’s rivers. By 1833 the once storied Atlantic crossing had been reduced to 22 days with steam-powered ships operating on the major Imperial and trade routes to India, South Africa and Australia. With steam’s increasing commercial relevance the same decade saw the rise of three major shipping lines, the British and American Steam Navigation Company, the Great Western Steamship Company and the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company. But it was not until April 1838, when the Great Western sailed from Bristol to New York in 14 days and 12 hours, that the modern steamship era was established. While invention has long since overtaken James Watt’s propulsion technology we will always be indebted to the era of ‘steam on the water’.
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ECONOMIC IMPACT
Pleasure Steamers Deliver £7.8 Million Benefit to Stormy UK Economy
Paddle Steamer Waverley, the last seagoing passenger vessel of its type in the world, and its sister ship Balmoral, contribute almost £8 million in off-board economic benefit to the UK economy each year, according to an independent study. The report commissioned by Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited (WSN), which owns and operates the iconic pleasure steamers, confirms the specific off-board economic impact from the trading operations of these iconic ships at £7.8 million across 80 ports throughout the UK. Glasgow-based Jura Consultants who carried out the study confirmed sixteen ports in Scotland receive 40% of the total reported economic benefit – over £3million per annum - from off-board passenger expenditure in Scottish ports as far north as Armadale, Tiree, Tobermory, Fort William and Oban down through the Clyde Valley to Campbeltown, Brodick & Lochranza, Ayr & Girvan. Port towns throughout England and Wales receive 60% of the off-board passenger expenditure created by Waverley and Balmoral’s unique service and journeys. WSN Chairman Nick James said: “We’re delighted with the result of the independent study. They confirm the real economic benefit Waverley and Balmoral deliver to ports throughout the UK as iconic elements of Britain’s maritime history. “Additionally, the study showed that over 50% of the reported off-board expenditure in Scotland, England and Wales would not have occurred without the services of WSN historic vessels.”
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On average 80,000 passenger journeys took place sailing the Clyde, Western isles and Irish Sea per annum from 2009 to 2011, with 91,000 passenger journeys sailing the Bristol Channel, Thames, South Coast and North East each year in the same period. Mr James continues: “We have come a long way this year in the development of new programmes and initiatives to continue to deliver the Waverley and Balmoral service, including individual and corporate “Friends of Waverley” programmes and the advent of a new website due for completion in early 2013. “However, continued support from the local council areas we service is required in order to do so, without which this rich tradition, memorable experience and economic benefit could be lost.” Waverley and Balmoral cover six main sailing areas throughout the UK including Scotland, Bristol Channel, Thames, South Coast and Irish Sea. The largest proportion of journeys for both vessels occurs in the areas of the Clyde, Bristol Channel, Thames and South Coast, totalling 79% of the Waverley and Balmoral combined passenger journey base. WSN vessels are national treasures and cultural flagships that generate income of approximately £3 million per annum.
Passenger Volumes Executive Summary • 80,500 passenger journeys 2009-11 sailing the Clyde, Western Isles and Irish Sea on average per annum. • 91,000 passenger journeys 2009-11 sailing the Bristol Channel, Thames, South Coast, North East on average per annum.
Economic Benefit: The total gross “offboard” passenger expenditure using Waverley Excursions was approximately £7.8 million across all sailing areas and ports – some 40% in Scotland 60% in SAILING AREAS USED - this England and PROPORTION Wales.OFOver 50% of WAVERLEY 2009 2010 expenditure in Scotland and 47% in 60.0% England Wales would not have occurred 50.0% without the services of WSN historic 40.0% vessels.
PROPORTION OF SAILING AREAS - OVERALL 6%
4% 1%
11%
36%
2011
Clyde Bristol Channel
20%
Thames
30.0%
South Coast
WSN vessels are national treasures and cultural flagships 20.0% that generate income of approximately £3 million per annum. 10.0%
Irish Sea Western Isles
22%
North East
0.0% Clyde
Thames
South Coast
Bristol Channel
Western Isles
PROPORTION OF SAILING AREAS USED BALMORAL
2009
Irish Sea
2010
60.0%
2011
PROPORTION OF SAILING AREAS USED WAVERLEY
50.0%
50.0%
40.0%
40.0%
30.0%
30.0%
20.0%
20.0%
10.0%
10.0%
0.0% Bristol Channel
Thames
Irish Sea
South Coast
North East
2009
2010
2011
60.0%
0.0% Clyde
Thames
South Coast
Bristol Channel
PROPORTION OF SAILING AREAS USED BALMORAL 60.0% 50.0%
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Western Isles
2009
Irish Sea
2010
2011
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LEGACIES
Getting “Baby Boomers” On-Board
While 1920 remains Britain’s biggest ever year for new births, the so-called “baby boomer” generation born immediately after World War II (circa 1946 to 1964) has delivered a record number of people heading to retirement in 2012. Baby boomers stand out for their wealth and numbers and are most commonly associated with having rejected the social mores of their day, growing up in a time of government subsidies in post-war housing and education and increasing levels of affluence. But what about the vast amounts of money created, saved and invested by the baby boomers leading up to their wellearned Golden Years? Legacies are the single biggest source of unrestricted gifts to charities, accounting for over 12% of the sector’s voluntary income. And that figure is set to grow significantly. The reason, of course, is the baby boomers themselves. Wills with effective tax codicils for things like legacies are expected to help charities to develop and continue through some of the harshest economic times in recent memory. This assistance is crucial in allowing charitable organisations like Paddle Steamer Waverley and its sister ship, Balmoral, to continue their iconic maritime journey, resourced in part from a legacy market that is expected to rise to some £5.3bn, against its current estimated value of £1.6bn today.
What is a Legacy? A Legacy is a gift made to charity in a will. They make up 15% of overall charitable income. While some 75% of adults give to charity during their lifetime, less than 20% go on to leave a legacy.
Are there different types? There are four main types of legacy:
1) Pecuniary Gift - A sum of money left to a charity in a will
2) Residuary Gift - The remainder of an estate after other beneficiaries have been provided for
3) Specific Request - The gift of a named item, like artwork
4) Contingent benefit - A gift dependent on
other factors, such as the donor outliving all other beneficiaries.
How do I leave a Legacy? You must have a Will as it’s not enough to simply tell those close to you of your intentions to leave a gift to a charity. Wills are legally binding. If you don’t have a Will then a solicitor can help you create one. For those who do have a Will you can add a codicil (a short amendment) that mentions the type of gift and the name of the charities who you would like to see benefit from it.
What are the benefits? Initially, legacies are exempt from inheritance tax so it may help reduce the amount of tax payable if your estate is over the exempt threshold. From April 2012, a reduced rate of inheritance tax of 36% for estates leaving 10% or more to charity was introduced.
How does the charity benefit? The income raised is a very cost effective way for charities to raise funds and has the potential to create a huge income stream for the charity, allowing them to help and engage with more people than they would otherwise be able to. Making a legacy gift to charity in a Will allows you to leave a footprint in the future where your money can make a significant difference to the world, even after you have gone. If you would like to talk to Paddle Steamer Waverley about a legacy gift you can either call us on 0845 130 4647 or write to us at:
Waverley Excursions Ltd 36 Lancefield Quay, Glasgow G3 8HA THE WAVERLEY
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DESTINATIONS
Six Sights in Six Sailing Areas! Waverley and Balmoral sail from approximately 80 ports throughout the UK offering passengers day, afternoon and evening cruise options. So we’ve highlighted six spectacular destinations across six sailing areas for you to consider visiting soon.
several small shops, a bank and a post office, as welll as two cafes. You won’t find any “chain” shops here!
1) Scotland’s Tighnabruaich
The town is centred on a picturesque harbour, a fine Victorian seaside resort with something to do whatever the weather all year round. It is the perfect location for a quiet relaxing get away.
Tighnabruaich is a tranquil village on the Kyles of Bute in Argyll and Bute on the west coast of Scotland situated at the southern end of the Cowal Peninsula. The village was developed during the 19th century with a few marine villas, and today it is a popular destination with its own sailing school offering courses for all levels on sailing, windsurfing and power boating. The pier is regularly visited by Clyde Steamers including Waverley, the world’s last sea going paddle steamer. The village is positioned overlooking the sea channel and Kyles of Bute, designated a National Scenic Area. There are hotels, self-catering accommodation and B&B’s in and around the area with cafés, restaurants and interesting shops selling antiques, gifts and art supplies. The beach along the shore is rocky, but there are some nice isolated beaches within a few miles drive - they do require a good walk to get to the shore. The village offers
Deck View, Kyles of Bute
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2) Ilfracombe in the Bristol Channel Ilfracombe is the jewel of the North Devon coast and is situated in the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NDAONB.)
The Landmark Theatre stages productions from six-week summer runs to smaller productions the rest of the year. Victorian week in June celebrates Ilfracombe’s heritage with various events including locals donning traditional dress. With breathtaking coastal scenery, seaside fun, rural tranquillity and centuries of heritage and style, tourists have been attracted here since Victorian times and it remains a favourite holidaying destination for those searching for some fresh sea air and summer sunshine. Ilfracombe has many high class restaurants, quaint shops, friendly pubs and a rich café culture which makes it a popular holiday destination year after year.
Waverley leaving Ilfracombe
3) Whitstable on the Thames
5) Llandudno in Wales
Whitstable is like no other town by the sea. Its traditional charms, strong arts culture and rich maritime history complement its modern appeal.
We’re looking forward to celebrating the planned reopening of Llandudno pier in 2013. Llandudno is the “Queen of the Welsh Resorts”; a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales.
Whitstable’s main claim to fame is its oysters which remain an intrinsic part of this sea town’s character and are celebrated every July at the Oyster Festival. Oysters and other delicacies from the sea can be enjoyed at the local restaurants and pubs or taken home from the fresh fish market at the harbour. Shoppers can delight in the town’s bohemian charm with independent craft and gift shops, galleries, delicatessens and fashion shops trading side-by-side with butchers and bakers. When you need to recharge with a drink and food you will be spoilt for choice with a wonderful selection of cafes, restaurants and pubs. Whitstable is one of a very few locales in the country that has a pub on the beach. Constructed in 1831 the harbour has an interesting history including diving, shipbuilding and fishing. And with its sense of intimacy and rich character Whitstable has secured a favoured spot in the hearts and minds of all who visit.
4) Swanage on the South Coast Swanage not only won “Pier of the Year” (see feature on page 22 of this issue) but also offers stunning coastal and country scenery. Situated on the south coast of Dorset visitors can enjoy the Blue Flag sandy beach at the traditional Victorian resort of Swanage or the more rugged beach at Studland. Walking along the South West Coast Path gives breathtaking views of the coastline. The area is also the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast – Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are key features of the World Heritage Site. Durlston Country Park is a perfect place to appreciate the area’s rich wildlife as is Wareham Forest, where the Sika Cycle Trail offers a safe off-road cycling environment. Nearby Purbeck also has a wealth of family attractions including Monkey World and The Tank Museum and was the inspiration for many of Enid Blyton’s novels. There are some things not to miss in Swanage & Purbeck including taking a trip on the Swanage Railway and a stop off at the iconic Corfe Castle, as well as cycling along the Sika Cycle Trail in the heart of Wareham Forest.
Llandudno and Conwy County are a perfect getaway destination. Look out for our feature on North Wales in the next issue of Waverley Magazine. With a wide choice of accommodation from Llandudno hotels to cosy Conwy Valley cottages you’ll be sure to find something to suit all your needs and tastes. It’s no mean feat listing all the things there are to do in Llandudno, Wales’ largest seaside resort. You can stretch your legs on the region’s longest pier, ride on Britain’s only cable hauled tramway, picnic on an award-winning beach or check out the views from Britain’s longest passenger cable car. Just make sure you leave time to explore the Bronze Age copper mine and have a night at the theatre. And don’t forget to take a look behind the beautiful redbrick Victorian frontage of Mostyn, the foremost contemporary art gallery in Wales.
6) Isle of Iona in the Western Isles Iona is a tiny island of typical Hebridean beauty off the southwest coast of Mull with a long and illustrious history, renowned the world over as ‘The cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland. It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents but manages to attract some 130,000 visitors each year. Its landscape kindles the imagination of the thousands who journey there and holds a unique place in the story of Scotland. Of interest is Iona Abbey, now an ecumenical church, a structure of particular historical and religious significance. It is perhaps the most elaborate and best-preserved ecclesiastical building surviving from the Middle Ages in the Western Isles of Scotland. But it is for the early Christian Saint Columba and his works that the island is best known after he and his followers arrived in Iona from Ireland in 563 AD, having fled their native land after the Battle of Cuil Dremhne.
Waverley leaving Swanage
Isle of Iona
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BALMORAL
Balmoral Prepares for 65th Year… And Its “OAP” Card! On Sunday 10th March 2013 Balmoral will agequalify for an OAP card as she celebrates the 65th anniversary of her issue of specification. It was back in 1948 when a gold-tooled brown leatherette covered document was issued detailing the layout and finish of the hull, machinery and electrical fittings of what was to become one of the longest living Red Funnel steamers and members of the UK pleasure steamer fleet. Balmoral was constructed by John I. Thornycroft & Co. whose build quality is best illustrated by her longevity and seaworthiness to this day. She arrived as an economical and versatile steamer designed for use as both a fast excursion steamer and a reliably operating ferry. The Thornycroft yard had more than ample experience of producing strong and fast ships with specific expertise in naval vessel design. Build considerations included the potential requirements of having to cross the Channel as well as operate long day excursions at fast speed. However it was later decided that Balmoral would undertake a more modest pattern of operation. This ultimately meant that her design was more than ample for her initial and later career. The estimated price for Balmoral was £154,750. As Balmoral nears her 65th anniversary we have the opportunity to reflect on the quality of design that has given her a full and relatively trouble-free life. Her layout, comfort, speed capability and versatility make her the perfect consort for the famous Waverley.
Did You Know? • The estimated cost of the new Balmoral in 1947 was £154,750. Of this, £79,480 was for the hull, machinery £37,100, overheads £27,970 and the builders profit £10,200. • After the launch of Balmoral by Mrs Pinnock, over 200 guests gathered at the Polygon Hotel in Southampton to see her presented with a platinum wrist watch, set with diamonds. Toasts were proposed to ‘The Ship and her Sponsor’, The Builders’ and ‘The Company’. 14
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• The corporate logo of Red Funnel Ferries today still depicts Balmoral’s flat-topped funnel as its central image. • Balmoral cost just £20,000 to buy for preservation and operation in 1985. • £320,995 was required to refit and renovate the Balmoral to service in 1985. • At the 1953 Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead, Balmoral was accompanied by the Royal Daffodil, Cardiff Queen, Bristol Queen, Medway Queen, Consul, Embassy and Emperor of India. • Balmoral originally had a car deck to convey around 12 cars to the Isle of Wight. When free of cars this became a much-sought after sun deck for deckchairs. The car deck now forms the space occupied by the Dining Saloon. • When Balmoral acted as a tender to the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1995, both vessels required bunkering of gas oil. Unfortunately, the supplier got the invoices mixed up and the liner got a bill for £2,000 whilst the Balmoral received one for £120,000! • Balmoral was the first pleasure steamer to use the new Town Pier Pontoon at Gravesend in 2012. • Balmoral was the first pleasure steamer for over sixty years to provide a grandstand to view Olympic sailing events at Weymouth in 2012.
Waverley’s Key Dates – The First 25 Years 1945: Waverley’s keel laid on 27th December at the A. & J. Inglis yard, Pointhouse, Glasgow
1946: Waverley launched by Lady Matthews on 2nd October
1947: Waverley enters service on Monday 16th June for a cruise up Loch Goil and Loch Long to Lochgoilhead and Arrochar
1947: Captain John Cameron becomes the first
master of Waverley with William Summers as his first Chief Engineer
1948: Waverley abandons her attractive LNER livery as she transfers to the new British Transport Commission fleet
1951: Waverley transferred to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company Limited
1953: The previously lovely ‘scumbled’ deck houses
were painted white and the ventilators silver in the Caledonian Steam Packet Company livery
1955: Waverley revives the ‘Round the Lochs’ cruise on Wednesdays
1957: Waverley’s boiler converted from coal to oil burning
1959: Waverley’s paddle boxes were painted white 1960: Radar is fitted to Waverley 1961-62: Waverley’s original riveted funnels are replaced by welded ones
1969: Bill Summers retires as Waverley’s Chief Engineer after 22 years in the job
1970: Waverley passes from railway ownership for
the first time and becomes part of the Scottish Transport Group
1970: Waverley officially becomes the ‘last sea-going paddle steamer in Europe’ with the withdrawal of the Caledonia.
1972: Waverley becomes the sole surviving Clyde
paddle steamer. Her paddle boxes are painted black.
1972: Waverley celebrates her 25th Anniversary
with a special cruise and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque aboard the steamer by Miss Jean Martin (now Mrs Jean McGowan). THE WAVERLEY
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WAVERLEY POSTCARDS
The First 25 Years
Want to Find Out More? If you want to find out more about the heritage of Balmoral and Waverley the best place to look is the Heritagesteamers website. The site tells the fascinating story of the steamers as well as the many other paddle steamers that once plied the coastline of the UK. Special online galleries have been created along with heritage cine film and a wealth of other material.
To view the website and to find out all of the latest heritage news visit www.heritagesteamers.co.uk
VOLUNTEER
This year offered many milestones for PS Waverley and the steamship community including; the venerable paddle steamer celebrating her 65th Birthday, the 200th anniversary of Henry Bell’s Comet as the first commercial steamship service in Europe, and the centenary of MacBrayne’s Saint Columba first taking to water. Now you can be a part of this incredible maritime tradition and Paddle Steamer Waverley’s exciting future.
The Paddle Steamer Needs You!
On Saturday 1st December 2012 PS Waverley, the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, held its most recent Volunteer Day for interested participants and enthusiasts.
We will have open days in the New Year where you can come aboard and learn about: • Volunteering opportunities with Waverley • Meet some of our current volunteers, and • Find out how rewarding it is to help the Charity fulfil its objectives. There are a range of interesting skilled and unskilled jobs available where your valuable time and energy can be put to great use. To find out more and register for the next open day contact: Waverley Excursions in Glasgow on 0845 130 4647 or email us at: volunteers@waverleyexcursions.co.uk Join The Tradition. Volunteer! THE WAVERLEY
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From Birth to 1973
Waverley has attended many important events over the years. Here above, she is steaming with the ‘Dunkirk Little Ships’ to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Dunkirk Evacuation in May 1990 from Ramsgate.
The first Waverley, launched in 1899, sank off Dunkirk in May 1940 when the ship came under air attack and a bomb went right through the hull. On board were some 600 troops evacuated from the beaches, 350 of who died along with most of the ship’s crew. Such was the type of historic sacrifice and horrific reality of the times. Plans to replace the steamer did not wait long as the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) quickly instructed A. & J. Inglis Limited to build a new steamer at their Pointhouse facility in Glasgow. And on 2nd October 1946, Waverley was launched by Lady Matthews, wife of the LNER Chairman, later earning the distinction as the last paddle steamer built for service on the Clyde. She arrived as a coal-fired ship with accommodation for two classes and, once fitted with a triple-expansion steam engine and boiler by Rankin & Blackmore’s, ran her trials in June 1947 at a top speed of 18.5 knots. Thereafter on Monday 16th June 1947 Captain John Cameron - who had been navigating officer on the bridge of the previous Waverley when she succumbed to the Luftwaffe - and Chief Engineer William Summers guided her maiden voyage up Loch Goil and Loch Long to Lochgoilhead, part of the famous ‘Three Lochs Tour’. In her first season she sailed to Arrochar six times per week, her three crank diagonal engine impressing all who sailed on her. Unlike her namesake, the new Waverley was considered a more attractive example and a refreshing change from the succession of plain utilitarian paddlers built in the 1930’s. She held two elliptical funnels forward, two masts, and lifeboats arranged on the upper deck; she also had traditional North British paddleboxes, with fan-vents and attractive painted detail. The rimless paddle-wheels themselves boasted eight flat wooden “feathering” floats. 18
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Steamers During Wartime The diverse role of paddle steamers like Waverley during conflict remains. From Victorian Times up until WWII paddle steamers traced the UK coastline, their flat bottoms and shallow draughts operating as beachside passenger landing vessels and effective minesweepers. However, their main contribution during both World Wars was in assisting Contraband Control, the organisation responsible for reducing commodities from ‘neutral’ ships reaching the enemy. Those steamers entered into the Royal Navy were tasked to stop merchant and other vessels in the Channel and escort them into sheltered waters to be searched.
The Three Lochs Tour Wealthy tourists in Victorian times could travel by steamship around Loch Long, Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine with connections over land between them made by horse and cart. Waverley was in many ways purpose built to service part of the Three Lochs Tour cruise up Loch Goil and Loch Long, and sailing a regular route between Arrochar and Craigendoran in the Firth of Clyde.
But this incarnation was smaller by eleven feet reducing her passenger certification from 1,480 down to 1,350 passengers who could enjoy the dining-saloon, lounge, tearoom and shop on the main (engine) deck, with the bar and another tearoom on her lower deck.
The decade also saw the boiler conversion to oil burning, reducing smut nuisance to passengers, and her forward funnel replaced with a new all-welded unit. Further changes to her status as CSP livery in 1965 included a blue hull, grey railings and ventilators and lions on
She was a welcome addition to the Clyde fleet and considered a handsome new arrival but would enjoy only a single season as a LNER vessel. Britain’s railways were nationalised on 1st January 1948 and with it all LNER-owned Clyde steamers became part of the British Transport Commission. Waverley’s bright funnels were blackened and her upper works painted in plain white. In the career of any long-serving Clyde steamer there are hiccups along the way. And the ‘ship of nine lives’ saw her first within a week of entering service when a gust blew Waverley off course and piled her onto a sandbank at Arrochar. The hardy steamer was undamaged but it took an hour and a half to bring her off the sand! In 1951 ownership passed to the then revived Scottish shipping subsidiary, the Caledonian Steam packet Co. (CSP) Limited, where Waverley lost her gold lines around the hull but brightened her funnels to yellow and saw the CSP pennant raised and appear once again in the ships timetables. She also changed her routes from traditional “North Bank” operations and expanded her once “summer butterfly” role taking up the demanding Craigendoran-RothesayGourock timetable. She would remain retained through winter, relieving Talisman at Gourock for overhaul, steamed up and on stand-by for emergencies. The introduction of the “Round the Lochs” cruise on Wednesdays in 1955 saw WAVERLEY include Glasgow in her schedule; and a type of “up the wa’er” Friday cruise from Largs, Rothesay and Dunoon. The late 50’s is considered a milestone in her pre-charitable career. Captain Colin MacKay alongside long-serving chief engineer Bill Summers – whose on board plaque pays tribute to his memorable character – partnered to deliver an enviable reputation for punctuality. The early 1960’s saw the retirement of Captain MacKay, the acquisition of radar and the unfortunate demise of day-to-day standards and maintenance, that at one stage led passengers to report seeing grass growing under her lifeboats. That slow demise into disrepair earned her the unflattering description as the “scruffiest” example in the Caledonian fleet.
1972 Waverley timetable and brochure. At this time, the uniqueness of Waverley was recognized and was strongly promoted by enthusiasts.
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Unhappy Weekenders
Waverley on a PSPS charter during the early 1970s. Much was done to raise the profile of Waverley at the time.
her funnels. But within four years STG ownership saw yet more change in livery with a black hull and the red underbody restored. Thereafter the demise of Talisman in 1966 saw Caledonia and Waverley as the last remaining Clyde paddlers. By 1969 there was only Waverley. Now unique, the early 1970’s brought Waverley a level of celebrity amongst the media, drawing in a new and curious clientele and her adoption into the hearts and minds of the Glasgow and Clydeside public. A new and more committed crew raised the maintenance levels and pride in appearance, and she began to reassert her reputation for reliability and punctuality. But like earlier journeys to, and challenges presented by, Arrochar - a pier that decayed to closure in 1965 Waverley was headed for another bumpy ride.
1973: The Year of New Beginnings As the 1973 season drew to a close, it was clear that Waverley’s future was in question with the cancellation of several days. The now ageing Waverley was withdrawn at the end of the season. By November 1973 Waverley’s then-owner Caledonian MacBrayne had decided to withdraw the ship from service following the decision that she was too costly to operate and needed significant expenditure.
In summer, Waverley was deployed on assorted ferry runs from Gourock and Wemyss Bay. She also picked up the “Unhappy Weekenders” run from Arran; a 7am Monday morning sailing to bear often disgruntled workers back to their employment. She began a lengthy Arran cruise from Craigendoran in 1953, calling at piers like Lamlash and Whiting Bay now long since closed.
The PSPS had also been actively promoting the uniqueness of the steamer for several years and a more ambitious option than simply retiring Waverley as a historic non-sailing attraction began to take shape. A huge appeal was launched approaching councils, tourism authorities and countless companies to enable the steamer to continue to operate. The task was enormous, including how to address her appalling mechanical state and the boiler troubles she incurred throughout 1973. There was also the real commercial consideration that a sustainable market for the service to support escalating running costs might not exist, especially not for a company whose prime mandate was to provide the public with lifeline ferry services. But the PSPS would not be deterred and, like so many times before, Waverley beat the odds with her celebratory first cruise on Thursday 22nd May 1975 - the first under the Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd (WSN) banner. At the end of the season, despite more than a few teething problems, the venture of operating Waverley had been a success. Specialists and dedicated volunteers have restored her to her original condition, with the help of £7m in grants from sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund, and she now operates each summer from Glasgow and around the British coast. She is the last in the long line of paddle steamers from the Comet in 1812 who have plied and churned the waters of the Clyde. And the rest, as they say, is history.
It looked as if Waverley, now the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, had reached the end of her respective rope. But history has shown time and again how Waverley is ‘the ship with nine lives’...and then some. So when Caledonian MacBrayne broke the news to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS), and Douglas McGowan was offered the 693 paddle steamer as a gift on 22nd November, almost everyone expected Waverley to survive…but most likely in the form of a static museumpiece. The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) had already taken a keen interest in Waverley and her management and had recently presented another plaque to mark the ship’s silver jubilee. 20
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Waverley at the Princes Dock in September 1972 at a time when her future looked uncertain.
Passengers enjoying a cruise on Waverley in 1971
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Swanage: Pier of the Year 2012 The Victorian architecture, aroma of fish and chips, currents squirreling around the legs of the walkway out to sea; piers remain a very British affair. And they are having something of a comeback. Last year’s unveiling of the new £39 million restoration of the Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare by the Princess Royal was hailed as ‘the biggest boost to a British seaside resort for nearly a century’. This year’s launch issue of Waverley Magazine reported on Clevedon Pier in the Bristol Channel, one of 78 such structures of note on the British coast and the only fully intact, Grade I listed pier in the country. Its remarkable journey, following disastrous structural damage incurred in 1970 and a painstaking restoration covering almost two decades, was commemorated by PS Waverley’s triumphant return to the North Somerset town in 1989. And the recent opening of the SEA LIFE viewing tower on the corner of Weymouth Pier ahead of the 2012 Olympics has helped continue this pattern of pier restoration for the betterment of the community and local economy.
But neither the state of the art rollercoaster-bearing Grand Pier attraction, nor the graceful arches of Clevedon or the soaring SEA LIFE tower addition, was enough to overcome Swanage’s triumph as the National Piers Society’s “Pier of the Year 2012”. It is the first time the Dorset pier has won the award thanks to the enormous efforts of the enthusiastic Friends group who help run it. The venue succeeded against no 22
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less than 22 different piers who received nominations this year; Blackpool North (which recently changed hands) and Clevedon tied for second place. Swanage is a Grade II listed pier, the second to be built in the resort, which opened on 30 November 1895. Passenger steamer traffic transferred to the new pier in 1896 and continued until the outbreak of World War II when, in common with the majority of South Coast piers, she was cut in half as a precaution against German landings. Pleasure steamers PS Waverley and MV Balmoral proudly call in to the Pier of the Year 2012 during the summer season.
Have A Merry Waverley Christmas
Did you know that you can buy Waverley Christmas Gift Vouchers for friends, family and colleagues? Waverley Christmas Gift Vouchers are presented in a Waverley & Balmoral card and can be made up to any value, and redeemed against any sailing or used on board. You can ensure that family and friends have a Merry Waverley Christmas by ordering your voucher securely online at: www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk, or write to us at: Waverley Excursions Limited, 36 Lancefield Quay, Glasgow G3 8HA If you have any questions you can contact Waverley Excursions in Glasgow on 0845 130 4647. Merry Christmas from everyone at Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited and Waverley Excursions Limited! THE WAVERLEY
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Weir Group Invests in Waverley Academy
Waverley Academy Apprentices: William Douglas and Alan Gemmell, both 20 years old, based at Weir Engineering Service Centre in Alloa.
The charity that operates Paddle Steamer Waverley has launched a unique apprenticeship initiative, supported by world leading engineering business The Weir Group plc. Taking part are twenty-year-olds Alan Gemmell and William Douglas, in the 3rd year and 4th year of their respective Weir Group apprenticeships, from the Weir Engineering Service Centre in Alloa. Waverley Academy, which provides hands-on experience and the inspiration to progress a career in the marine industry, engages its students with traditional skills preservation training suitable to the modern engineering environment. The supervised workplace initiative is taking place on board PS Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, which is currently undergoing her annual refit at her home at Glasgow Science Centre. Weir Group has enrolled two apprentices in the Waverley Academy who commenced training in November. Each will learn from highly experienced professional staff and volunteers who have spent a lifetime in marine engineering.
Waverley Academy’s engineering programme is made possible through the support of the Weir Group. The iconic Waverley holds a nationally important place in British maritime history and offers apprentices a rare insight into steam-driven machinery and functionality. Kathleen O’Neill, Waverley’s Chief Executive said: “This year the Waverley Academy has welcomed two officer cadets on board the ship to provide essential training and valuable sea time to enable them to progress their careers. We are delighted that The Weir Group has chosen to support the engineering programme. Waverley still operates with original Weir pumps and the enduring quality of both of these institutions makes for a great partnership.” Pauline Lafferty, Director of Human Resources, The Weir Group PLC said: “Weir is delighted to support the launch of Waverley Academy with its first two apprentices. The engineering experience our apprentices can gain from working on Waverley will be extremely valuable. Weir has a proud history of supplying the maritime industry, with some of our equipment still used in the Waverley engine room. We will continue to support the apprenticeship programme as it grows and attracts wider participation from industry.” THE WAVERLEY
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Books on Board: 200 Years of Clyde Paddle Steamers
Authors Alistair Deayton and Ian Quinn were at a well-attended book signing aboard Waverley in August to sign copies of ‘200 Years of Clyde Paddle Steamers’. This excellent new book takes a look at the birth of the famous paddle steamer Comet and the two hundred years of paddle steamers that culminate in the famous Waverley. In August 1812, the River Clyde would see a transport revolution - one that would change the economy of the river for ever. The Comet had been built by John Wood of Port Glasgow and was fitted with paddle wheels. Her first voyage from Glasgow to Greenock was made at about 5mph against a headwind. Advertised to sail on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Glasgow, the Comet operated the first scheduled steamship service in Europe. It was the start of a revolution that would see the Clyde as the greatest shipbuilding river in the world, and the river’s estuary as a haven for pleasure steamers calling at remote piers. Companies such as David MacBrayne’s and the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. would be formed to operate steamers far and wide, a legacy kept alive today by the Paddle Steamer Waverley.
Waverley
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A wide range of excellent souvenirs, books, calendars, prints and many other Waverley and Balmoral items are available to buy from the Waverley website at www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk
Join the “Corporate Friends of Waverley” Charity Team-Building & Staff Incentive Programme Waverley: The World’s Last Sea-Going Paddle Steamer
“Corporate Friends of Waverley” Membership Iconic charitable organisation Paddle Steamer Waverley has launched the unique team-building and staff incentive scheme “Corporate Friends of Waverley”, to bolster and support company employee motivation and reward programmes. Waverley and Balmoral sail from 80 ports throughout the UK with day and evening cruise options. Waverley is the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, and Balmoral is the last of the famous “White Funnel Fleet” of pleasure steamers.
Book Your Annual Membership For Only £995.00! “Corporate Friends of Waverley” membership delivers up to £2,000 worth of company and staff benefits for only £995.00
“Corporate Friends of Waverley” membership includes: • 40 single use tickets aboard the unique Waverley and Balmoral delivering; • A memorable team building opportunity and employee reward scheme option • An inspiring day out for clients and staff
• An annual subscription to Waverley Magazine and a quarter page advert therein • Discounted charter rates for corporate events aboard Waverley and Balmoral • Association with, and support for, an iconic charity and Britain’s maritime heritage • A tax deductible programme from total company profits when calculating corporation tax • A sliding scale discount for buying additional tickets in large numbers, including;
10% discount for 1-49 tickets
15% discount for 50-99 tickets
20% discount for 100 or more tickets
Contact editorial@hnwscotland.co.uk or 07837 645 382 to discuss and book your membership. Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited, 36 Lancefield Quay Glasgow, G3 8HA (t) 0845 130 4647 Registered Charity No: SC005832 http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/
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