Waverley departs for Liverpool

Sunday 2 June 2013

Waverley departs for Liverpool

Waverley finally left Glasgow at 1630 on Saturday 1st June heading for Liverpool after being delayed due to a technical issue.

Over the past few days both crew and volunteers put in a tremendous effort to try and ensure that Waverley was able to reach Liverpool for her first sailing on Saturday but unfortunately circumstances prevented her leaving her home port.

The following pictures were taken by two of Waverley's regular winter volunteers, Roy Tait and Keith Roberston. Both of these gentlemen have first hand experience of the the great effort required to ensure that the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world is able to keep sailing. Both rightly state that she was only able to sail south after a herculean effort from both the ship's crew and volunteers.

Casting off (R Tait)

The newly painted paddle box and wheel (K Robertson)

The Rover assists turning Waverley to head down-river (K Robertson)

Liverpool bound (R Tait)

And so let the 2013 season really get underway!

Paul Semple

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Sunday 2 June 2013