Delivering for Scilly | Issue 8 | July 2022

MAGAZINE OF THE ISLES OF SCILLY STEAMSHIP GROUP

Issue 8Issue | Spring 8 | Summer 2022 2022

Delivering for Scilly Seabird surveys Highlights from the inaugural seabird survey conducted by MARINElife on Scillonian III

Skybus frame change Find out how the Skybus engineering team completed one of the largest component replacements on a Twin Otter

Air Air Traffic Traffic Control Control Learn Learn what what it’s it’s likelike to work to work in Air in Air Traffic Traffic Control Control where where quick-thinking quick-thinking and and multimultitasking tasking are are essential essential

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Isles ofIsles Scilly of Scilly

Isles

People Focus

Delivering for Scilly

New Gry Master Tom Sexton is the new Gry Master, taking over the helm from Paul Stevens, who retired in May. Read the full story on page 8.

In this issue of Delivering for Scilly Welcome to the summer issue of Delivering for Scilly, our company magazine, which is full of our latest news and achievements.

In this issue we go behind-the-scenes with air traffic control at Land’s End Airport on pages 12, 13 and 14, and you can read about Gry Maritha Master Paul Stevens’ retirement on pages 6 and 7.

If you have any news you’d like to include in the next issue of Delivering for Scilly, please contact

Retirement Turn to page 15 as we say farewell to Mervyn Bird after 32 years

the marketing team - marketing@issg.co.uk.

Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Limited, Steamship House, Quay Street, Penzance Cornwall TR18 4BZ Delivering for Scilly is produced

by Isles of Scilly Steamship Group inhouse communications team.

Delivering for Scilly

T +44 (0) 1736 334240 marketing@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk Editor Marketing Team marketing@issg.co.uk

With grateful thanks to all team members who’ve helped contribute articles and photos. Opinions expressed are the authors’ and not necessarily those of the company. Whilst every effort is made to ensure total accuracy Isles of Scilly Steamship Group cannot be help responsible for any errors or omissions within this magazine.

Glider flight A 99-year-old WWII veteran has taken to the skies 2,000ft above Cornwall on a glider flight – with a little help from Skybus operations assistant Jake.

Jake, a member of the Seahawk Gliding Club at RNAS Culdrose, was Kate Orchard’s instructor for the flight back in April.

Kate, who worked for the Women’s Auxiliary Core plotting aircraft targets and sending signals to warning systems during the war, was raising money for armed forces charity Help for Heroes.

She was overwhelmed by the experience, calling Jake “an absolutely wonderful instructor”.

Jake has been gliding for 16 years and is one of the senior instructors and chief tow plane pilot at Seahawk Gliding Club.

Our newest firefighting recruit Marc Dale, our newest

tactics on different aircraft

I also performed the role of

firefighting recruit at Land’s

ranging from helicopters to

BA team leader, which meant

End Airport, recently attended

category 10 aircraft (Boeing

I needed to make decisions

a course at the world-leading

747).

to enable search and rescue,

International Fire Training

During my course I was lucky

Centre at Durham Tees Valley

enough to do some driver

Airport. Here, he describes the

training. Responding as the

experience.

driver to incidents made me

I started my employment at

think about wind direction,

Land’s End Airport in November

driving safely but at speed, and

2021; I had a lot to learn in aviation firefighting tactics. I

the best position to attack the

firefighting and ventilation to take place safely for my crew and provide a survivable environment for the casualties.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course and learnt a great deal to take back to the airport.

external fires.

have been in the community fire service for three years, which meant I could join a bridging course at the International Fire Training Centre for two weeks to gain my high category firefighting qualification.

I joined an initial course where they had been training together for four weeks before I started.

In the two weeks I learnt a lot about aircraft construction, aviation fuels and firefighting 3

Excellence

Customer

Our customers are at the heart of eve share some of our recent comments wit to all our employees for making th

Day trip to the Isles of Scilly was a total success! Friendly, helpful people from the early start at Land’s End Airport and the short Skybus flight to St Mary’s to the final docking in Penzance on Scillonian III. Andy gave us a fascinating insight on his tour of the gardens at Tresco and John ferried us between islands with additional stops to see puffins. Crab rolls on St Agnes for our lunch and a final ferry to finish at St Mary’s and check out the gigs ready for the weekend racing. Easy crossing back to Penzance with so many memories to cherish. Thank you all for our whistle stop tour. Looking forward to a second visit.

I wanted to drop you an email regarding Philippa Holmes. I have emailed Philippa over the last few days regarding help with care and assistance for a delayed flight, and I would like to say that Phillipa is first class in her approach to customer service.

Arrived on St Mary’s today after a rather rough crossing on Scillonian. The staff were absolutely brilliant – kind, caring and outstanding in their duties. Sending them all a big thank you.

I am writing to express my gratitude for the way the ground staff at St Mary’s dealt with us today. There was fog and the pilot of the 9.15 flight wasn’t happy so there was going to be, at the least, a considerable delay. Luckily we had arrived early at departures and the ground staff recommended we switch to the 08.50 Land’s End flight which would mean we were on the main land and arrangements could be made to get us, and one other passenger, to Exeter. The upshot was that on arriving at Land’s End the staff there were fully informed and told us straight away that there was a plane waiting to take us on to Exeter. We arrived at Exeter nine minutes after the expected arrival time of the 09.15. All staff involved at both airports and on the flights are a credit to both your organisation and themselves.

This was our first experience of Skybus and it will not be our last. Many thanks to all concerned.

Delivering for Scilly

Feedback

erything we do and we’re delighted to th you here. A big thank you, as always, hese comments so commonplace.

We would just like to say a big thank you to two crew members who helped look after my husband on our first trip to Scilly. My husband became sick and a male crew member stayed with us the whole time, and a female crew member fetched and carried sick bags, paper, bin bags and provided care and support. They were both so kind and caring, it puts faith back in humanity that you have such wonderful staff who provide such excellent over and above customer service as they did. In fact all the members of the crew that knew about my husband were extremely kind and caring.

I am dropping this note to you to say how very well Jenny dealt with me yesterday.

She was so very helpful and kind to me.

Please thank her for me. I thought you ought to know.

Philippa has been a pleasure to deal with due to her knowledge, focus and empathy and is a credit to Skybus. I’m very thankful and happy that she was able to help me. In a world where people are quick to criticise, I believe it is right to share positive feedback.

Jenny Waters from the cafe on Scillonian III was absolutely amazing with my little girl Bella when she felt seasick. Jenny was so caring and kind and went above and beyond with Bella to make sure she was OK and I honestly cannot thank her enough. She made such a difference Bella wanted her more than me with her calmness and kindness.

Please can you forward this to someone who can make sure she is recognised as an absolutely amazing member of your team and let her know how grateful myself and Bella are.

5

People Focus

Farewell Paul After 22 loyal years – and 185,000 miles on board the Gry Maritha - Captain Paul Stevens has retired

Delivering for Scilly

Paul, 68, retired almost 22

rose through the ranks as

years to the day he joined

Relief Mate and Mate, before

the Isles of Scilly Steamship

becoming a Master in 2004.

Group, in May 2000.

“I did the courses alongside

A familiar and well-respected

my job, and the company

face on the Isles of Scilly,

supported me,” said Paul.

Paul has spent two decades

“Then in April 2006 I became

serving the islands all year-

Relief Mate Master, and

round on board the Gry.

in 2010 Senior Master. It’s

He said: “The Gry, and her crew, are committed to the community on Scilly. It’s a

been a privilege, and I can honestly say I’ve never been bored since I’ve been here.

big responsibility and it’s

“I love every aspect of it.

no exaggeration to say she

Every day is different –

is a lifeline to the islands,

sailing times, schedules and

especially in the winter.

the cargo. Each day brings different challenges.

I’ve loved my time on the Gry, but all good things must come to an end. I will miss going to sea, the boat and the close-knit crew who are more like a second family.

“We’ve carried a helicopter,

He left school at the age of 15 to become a fisherman,

fire engines and even reindeer. Never a trip goes by where we don’t see some form of wildlife. My favourite stars on a quiet, clear night.

Thank you so much for getting goods to us in horrendous conditions over the years. Enjoy your retirement.

I sailed with him a lot on the Gry. Great skipper, great friend.

“There have been a few memorable, stormy journeys – I remember one eight-hour passage in an easterly gale.

Ives and Hayle, and then for

The Gry has been through it

30 years from Newlyn and

all. She’s a real workhorse,

various ports around the UK,

built for the Norwegian

until a chance conversation

fjords, and has been a

with a Dutch colleague.

reliable and loyal servant.”

“He told me he was applying

Paul, who has always lived

for an engineering job on

in St Ives with his wife

the Gry, I thought it sounded

Linda, is hoping to spend

interesting, so I applied too.

his retirement gardening,

It was an opportunity I’d

cooking and spending more

never considered before.

time with his family.

and the rest is history.”

A hard act to follow, well done Paul. Enjoy pipe and slippers time.

time is looking up at the

working on trawlers out of St

Needless to say I got the job,

I’ve seen the Gry ploughing through huge seas to keep the islands supplied – above and beyond normal sailing. I hope you have a really enjoyable retirement.

whole timber frame houses,

It’s mind boggling.

Seafaring is in Paul’s blood.

Here are a small selection of the many comments we have received on Paul’s retirement.

Thank you for your wonderful service to these islands. Happy retirement.

I had the pleasure of sailing with Paul a couple of times as Relief Engineer. Enjoy your retirement Paul, you have earned it.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul for

Paul joined the Gry as A/B

his incredible contributions

Relief Engineer, having

to the company over the

obtained engineering

past two decades. We will

qualifications before joining

certainly miss him and wish

the company, and quickly

him well for his retirement.

7

Congratulations Tom Our values

PEOPLE FOCUS Tom Sexton, 33, who has served as the Gry’s Chief Mate for the past five years, took over the helm from Paul Stevens when he retired in May. Tom, who lives in Carharrack, joined the Steamship Company in 2017 after working for Maersk in its offshore oil and gas division.

He grew up on the water, sailing with his family to Scilly most years, and his love of the water and for adventure led him to a career at sea.

I am extremely proud to become Master of the Gry Maritha and to take over the lifeline link to the islands. The Gry is a much-loved ship – and a real workhorse – which means so much to Scilly.

It’s a real honour to take over from Paul, and his are big boots to fill. I have a huge amount of respect for Paul and have learnt so much from him about the intricacies of the job. He will be greatly missed by the whole Gry family.

I am really looking forward to continuing working with the amazing team on the Gry and being part of the island community.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish him every success in his new role as Master of Gry Maritha.

Delivering for Scilly

Scillonian III training exercise Safety

Scillonian III took part in a training exercise with Penlee Lifeboat on Sunday 8th May. She sailed into Mounts Bay where she stopped engines.

The lifeboat arrived and passed the ship’s crew a towline, which they connected to the bow and the lifeboat then towed Scillonian III for a short period. The lifeboat then changed to the stern of the ship and carried out the same procedure.

Dave Redgrave, Scillonian III Master, said: “The aim of the exercise was for both crews to train in the set-up and towing arrangement and have some real-time training, gaining familiarity and understanding of the operation.

“The lifeboat crews do a considerable amount of training but it is difficult for us to conduct real life towing exercise, so the exercise was valuable for all onboard.”

Our 2022 seasonal team We would like to extend a warm welcome to our seasonal team members. Some have joined the Steamship Company for the first time, and others we are welcoming back for another season.

Welcome on board Scillonian III to Robin Stevens, Tony Oxley, Ronald Johns, Julian Cooke, David Hichens, Amber Tresahar, Jonathan Buchanan, Shaun Crawford, Steven Anderson, Neil Wride, Claire Bate, Joe Lunn, Stuart Brook, Jago Reed-Williams, Isaac Tinley, Hayley Mansell, Audrone Bucniene, Peyton Pocock and Gail Dunkley; Jennie Trevithick, David Stevens, Diane Williamson, Laurie Ann Wilson and Colleen Selby in the Travel Centre; Paul Gibbons on board Gry Maritha; Shirley Pitts, Alan Reynolds and Peter Eddy at Penzance Quay and Daniel Rutter, Rohan Wingham, Chloe Norris and Lou Knapman

Famous faces & film crews In April we welcomed broadcaster and presenter Clare Balding on board Skybus from Land’s End Airport. Clare was recording her BBC Radio 4 Ramblings programme and promoting walking on Scilly.

Scillonian III will be featured in the German TV series Nordseereport, a maritime-based travel magazine show. The crew filmed on board during April. The programme can be viewed here www.ndr.de/nordseereport.

The crossing will be shown on the Channel 4 show Living Wild: How to Change Your Life, after filming took place in May. After the journey presenter Sophie Morgan, who is disabled, spent time on Bryher, meeting people united by a desire to build new lives around the things they love.

at Skybus.

9

Safety

Skybus Engineering Replacing a Twin Otter frame During April, the Skybus

readiness for the frame to be

the fuselage skin to be released

engineering team completed

changed.

and gripped in place to ensure

one of the largest component replacements there is to do on a Twin Otter – replacing Frame 218.8 on G-ISSG.

Preparation work included removing all the passenger

it remains aligned during the riveting process.

seats and lower side walls;

Once the frame and sub-floor

removing the main landing

riveting was completed and the

The frame at fuselage station

gear and placing the aircraft in

Rocky Mountain team departed,

218 needs to be replaced before

trestles; defueling the aircraft

the Skybus engineering team

it has accumulated 39,000

(approximately 570 litres) and

continued to rebuild the aircraft.

flying hours or 78,000 flights.

removing the fuel system and

This aircraft has currently flown

tank and the removal of the

38,860 hours.

cabin floor and sub-floor skin.

It is a major job, which takes

The new frame arrived as a full

from every member of the

five weeks in total and is

kit including all the rivets and

engineering department, from

completed once in the aircraft’s

additional components for the

planning to stores.

service life.

repair – in fact there were 1,021

Two specialist engineers from

individual items including nuts,

Rocky Mountain Aircraft in

bolts, washers and more than

Calgary, Canada were at Land’s

6kg of solid rivets.

End Airport for three weeks to

The process of the frame change is a detailed and labour intensive one, requiring input

Special mentions go to Kev Rouncefield and Scott Maguire for removing the fuel system and Andrew Barrett, John

The Rocky Mountain team

Stephens and Jas Bibby who

peeled back the side skin of

undertook the cabin floor and

Prior to this, the Skybus

the aircraft and removed the

sub floor removal, and the

engineering team stripped

old frame, before settling the

unpleasant but necessary fuel

and prepared the aircraft in

new frame into place ready for

cell cleaning.

carry out the frame change.

Delivering for Scilly

Baz and John removing the sub floor skin.

David and Mignon peeling the fuselage skin.

David and Mignon de-riveting the fuselage skin.

David and Mignon refitting internal structure.

David and Mignon re-rivetting the sub-floor skin.

Jas cleaning the fuel tanks.

Mick gunning rivets.

Mignon and David drilling off the new frame.

Mignon de-riveting the frame.

Mignon squeezed into the fuselge to buck rivets.

Old frame being removed.

New frame being installed.

11

Behind-the-scenes with Air Traffic Control Our values

PEOPLE FOCUS

Delivering for Scilly

Air Traffic Control seems like

airport such as Heathrow is the

a baffling place to many – but

variety of our job,” explained

in reality it’s an exciting and

Neil Didlick, Deputy Senior

dynamic environment where

Air Traffic Controller. “In fact,

quick-thinking and multi-tasking

we work harder here than

are an essential part of the job.

at Heathrow because of the

It is a highly-regulated and

different jobs we undertake.

safety critical role, where every

“At big airports, different people

aircraft – sometimes more than

carry out different jobs, but at

10 at a time – and the safety of every passenger and crew member is in the hands of the duty Air Traffic Controller.

Land’s End, it’s all done by the watchful eye of ATC – ground movements, flight information, integrating all air traffic. We’re

Land’s End Airport’s team of

in control of the entire apron up

five controllers, two assistants,

here.”

a senior controller and deputy senior controller, work a rota covering six days a week, every week of the year.

Behind-the-scenes, a huge amount of preparation goes on before the first flight of the day takes off, including

Moving traffic around the sky in

inspecting the airfield and

a safe and orderly way is a big

lighting, observing the weather,

part of the job, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

preparing flight progress strips for the day, checking

“The main difference between

the flight schedule and all

working here and a major

communications equipment.

I love the family-feel of Land’s End. It’s an amazing place to work and I have a sense of pride when I come in each day. Plus, you wouldn’t get these views at Heathrow.

Ian Dewdney Air Traffic Controller 13

happen. One minute you’re doing nothing, the next you’ve got eight aircraft in your airspace.”

As a commercial airport, it’s not just Skybus using Land’s End. Everything from private and charter planes to electric helicopters, Trinity House helicopters, Royal Navy helicopters, police helicopters, the air ambulance and coastguard use the airport’s facilities.

It’s a highly governed role,

On a busy day in July and

with 25 folders full of rules and

August the airport can see

regulations to follow each day.

up to 120 aircraft movements.

One of the most important features in the control tower is the flight strip board, which represents the airspace around

Each controller has to take a

“Aviation is a team,” said Neil. “If air traffic control isn’t there, we can’t fly. If the fire brigade isn’t

30-minute break every two

there, we can’t fly. If any one

hours, in order to decompress

part of the team fails, then we

and remain on high alert during

all fail.

the airport and is a legal

their shift. There’s a lot of

document.

watching and waiting.

Described as like a big game

“Nobody really understands

in aviation. A pilot may

of draughts, the hand-written,

what goes on in the control

learn how to fly a plane, but

colour-coded paper strips

tower and our jobs are a

we learn everything from

represent inbound flights,

mystery,” said Ian. “The beauty

meteorology and air traffic law

departures, local flights and

of the job is that you never

to management and handling

overflights and are moved

really know what’s going to

emergencies.”

“Being in air traffic control gives you a rounded education

around the strip board by the controller.

“It’s a universal system used in control towers throughout the world and is vital to our job,” explained Air Traffic Controller Ian Dewdney, who has worked at the airport for 15 years. “If I suddenly had a heart attack, one of the other ATCs can look at the strip board and can take over. It shows exactly what’s happening in our air space.”

LEQ ATC STATS Delivering for Scilly

LEQ covers 30 nautical miles & up to 8,000ft

LEQ has 8 runways – 4 grass and 4 Tarmac

The control tower is 40ft high and has 64 steps

Up to 120 aircraft movements on a busy day

Saying Goodbye In March we said a fond farewell to St Mary’s Quay Manager Mervyn Bird, who left to spend more time on his farm after 32 years with the Steamship Company.

Merv, 59, joined the company in 1988 as a storeman on the quay. He recalls: “Everything used to come in loose in the containers and had to be checked off individually before it was loaded onto vehicles.”

He took on a full-time role in October 1995 and has held various quayside jobs on St Mary’s ever since, becoming Quay Manager in June 2002.

“I can remember the first time the Gry came round the corner, and the same for the Lyonesse Lady,” he said. “I’ve definitely enjoyed it that’s for sure – there’s never been a day when I haven’t enjoyed going to work.

“The freight system we have now has grown around me. It’s a brilliant system, which still can’t be beaten.

“Day-to-day it’s been great fun. Being on the quay is a busy and varied job and I will miss it, but I realised during the lockdowns that two intense jobs is too much for me now.”

Merv will continue to run the family flower farm at Pelistry, as well as the Cornwall Outdoors campsite.

Stuart Reid, Chief Executive of the Steamship Company, said: “Merv has been a fantastic colleague and friend to many over the years. We wish him well on his farm.”

Our values

PEOPLE FOCUS

15

Seabird surveys take flight

Bird species which could be spotted from Scillonian III.

The inaugural seabird survey has taken place on Scillonian III – the first of its kind in England.

Highly-trained seabird surveyors from MARINElife, the charity dedicated to the conservation of marine wildlife, will be conducting monthly surveys from Scillonian III until November.

Gannet

Scillonian III has long been revered by bird watchers for the quality and variety of seabirds regularly recorded including specialties such as grey phalarope, great shearwater, pomarine skua and cory’s shearwater but until now, no systematic recording has been undertaken.

The inaugural survey was undertaken during a good spell of weather in mid-April and led by MARINElife research director professor Tom Brereton and trustee Rick Morris.

Storm-Petrel

Professor Brereton said: “The trip certainly lived up to expectations with a superb variety of seabirds recorded, despite the season only just beginning. We are very much looking forward to doing more and communicating the results to passengers and the wider public.”

Highlights on the first survey included: velvet scoter (rare in Cornwall), four Great Northern Divers, Eider, six puffins, two bonxies, 196 Manx shearwaters, 26 Sandwich terns, 339 guillemots, 219 gannets and 13 razorbills.

Pomarine Skua

A number of cetaceans were also spotted including 18 harbour porpoise, 27 common dolphins and five grey seals, highlighting how rich the waters between Penzance and the islands are for wildlife.

Since 1995, the charity MARINELife has been surveying seabirds, whales and dolphins from ferries departing from a wide variety of UK ports, travelling over 600,00km in the process - a distance equivalent to travelling to the moon and half-way back.

The new Scillonian III survey program aims to introduce ‘gold standard’ European Seabird at Sea (ESAS) recordings by volunteers, which follows on from a successful pilot project in Scotland, but this will be the first of its kind in England.

The volunteer surveys will run alongside whale and dolphin surveys by ORCA, as has been done successfully in Scotland.

While undertaking scientific MARINELIfe surveys volunteers will endeavor to make passengers aware of any particularly interesting sightings.

Delivering for Scilly

Cory’s Shearwater Our values

COLLABORATION Further details about the research, conservation & educational work of MARINELife can be found at

www.marine-life.org.uk