Category: News

  We often think of Waverley and Maid of the Loch as among the last of the many thousands of reciprocating engine passenger steamers built on the Clyde. Credit for the development of the compound and triple expansion versions of the engine, which finally enabled steam ships to win the battle with sailing vessels for…
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No doubt the first of many – my first picture of Waverley in 2010 – January 1st at just after 13:00 (click on picture for better sarpness)   It has been claimed, more than once, that Waverley is the most photographed ship in the World. Well that would probably be impossible to prove one way…
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Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and are getting over the New Year celebrations. Thats two months gone bye already since Waverley finished her 2009 season and May 2010 is getting nearer. A couple of photos of PS Waverley under her coat of snow at Pacific Quay, Glasgow, taken last week. At least a…
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The Clyde paddler steamer Mercury, second of the name to serve in the LMS Railway Clyde fleet, was the first of a new breed of paddlers, being fitted with concealed paddleboxes, which when viewed from a distance, could result in the vessel being identified as a screw driven ship. Mercury was delivered in 1934 from…
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Sadly one of the stalwarts of Waverley musician Colin McDonald has passed away after a brave fight against cancer.Colin and his band Caledonia spent some 16 summer seasons entertaining Waverley passengers in the Jeannie Deans lounge and his devotion to the ship was legendary to all who knew him. Colin was not only the leader…
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Kilted Chief Officer

Interesting picture of Waverley and the liner QM2 as the latter departs Greenock in October 2009 can be seen at the following Flickr link and another two from earlier in the day http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmktid/4029922476/sizes/o/in/pool-27359622@N00/

Assistant Purser and Waverley enthusiast Simon Morgan has organised the following fundraising festive singalong.

On Sunday 4th October, while on passage between Harwich and Clacton, RAF Rescue Helicopter ZH540, from B Flight RAF 22 Squadron based at Wattisham, carried out an exercise with PS Waverley and landed one of the aircraft crew on Waverley’s deck. I’ve seen the Coastguard helicopters come and take a close look at Waverley on…
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(Apologies for the ‘greyness’ of some of these images – the north bank of the Clyde is not ideal for southfacing shots in October – the sun was not enough to improve the situation but enough to cause frustration) Usually on Trafalgar day each year Waverley’s crew are busy putting the vessel into winter hibernation…
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Waverley returned from her South Coast and Thames season yesterday (Wednesday) in readiness for her final weekend of sailings for 2009. Alasdair MacKenzie captured her as she approached Greenock.

Why not come ashore at Greenock and head to the Royal West Amateur Boat Club, listen to some good music and raise money for Waverley all at the same time? Book tickets at the Boat Club by calling 01475 723260 – evenings and Sat/Sun afternoons See below…

Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 will visit the Clyde for the first time on Monday 19th October. The 150,000grt vessel is the first true Transatlantic Ocean Liner built since QE2 and is now the only one after the latter’s retirement from the Cunard fleet last November. To mark her fifth year in service Queen Mary…
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The following embedded YouTube film clip shows a short excerpt of film from the famous John Brown shipyard at Clydebank. There is a very short sequence showing a paddle tug at the stern of a cargo vessel passing upriver – it appears to be one of the renowned Clyde Shipping Company tug fleet – possibly…
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A few pictures of Waverley during an August day in 2009, courtesy of Richard Dennis: One of the all too few summer days in August 2009, Waverley passing the Mirren Shore at Port Glasgow. Above, Waverley passing off the Inverclyde shoreline, formerly the site of the East, Glen and Kingston shipyards operated at various times…
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Waverley’s last weekend of her summer season on the Clyde is usually a very busy one with heavy loadings for the Cowal Games on the Saturday. 2009 was no exception with a good number transported direct from Glasgow to Dunoon on Saturday morning. After unloading at Dunoon, Waverley returned to Greenock to take up her…
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The ‘Cowal Games’ at Dunoon (or the Cowal Highland Gathering to give the event its proper title) is always one of the busiest days in Waverley’s year. In recent years it has begun with a direct Glasgow to Dunoon sailing followed by the ship doubling back to Greenock to pick up her normal Saturday excursion,…
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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…
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Just a wee note to say the BBC will be filming on board Waverley on Monday August 24th for their programme “Country Tracks”. The film crew will board the steamer at Girvan and will be filming during the cruise round Ailsa Craig. Arrangements have been made to interview a couple of Branch Committee Members but…
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Click images for larger viewThis week a number of Waverley crew members and enthusiasts have been enjoying some Swiss steamer sailings. Earlier in the week I met up with Waverley’s Iain McCorkindale i.e. Corky and John Sims on Lake Lucerne where we enjoyed some sailings on the four operational paddlers Uri, Schiller, Gallia and Stadt…
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This photo was taken by Joe McKendrick at Lochranza Ferry Slip last Sunday (2nd August) – leave your caption via the comments option below!!!

I was fortunate enough to be anchored off Lamlash the other night in David Edward’s fine yacht, Enigma. As is often the case, over the course of consuming a modest amount of Scotland’s finest exports, namely Malt Whisky, Oatcakes and cheese, the conversation turned to all things Waverley. One comment that struck a chord concerned…
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Stuart Cameron has provided a very comprehensive report below on Waverley’s Saturday in the middle of the traditional Glasgow Fair holiday period. However, being on board, it was a bit difficult for him to capture Waverley arriving back at the Science Centre on Saturday evening so just to complete his story board, I’ve added this…
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The following two views illustrate some variety of transport on the Clyde in the summer of 2009 – both views were taken from the new Meadowside Quay Walk looking across to the BVT Surface Fleet shipyard at Govan. Sunday 19th July 2009 at 09:06AM – Loch Lomond Seaplane’s Cessna 200 G-MDJE passing HMS Defender as…
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Over Sat 25th & Sun 26th July the banks of the River Clyde will once again come alive as the Glasgow River Festival swings into action. As ever the Scottish Branch will have a stand at the festival located in front of the Crowne Plazza Hotel just across from Bells Bridge. On Sunday this year…
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Following a heavy contact with the breakwater berth at Dunoon in blustery conditions on the first day of her regular Clyde summer sailings (26th June 2009) it was necessary to take Waverley out of service for repair to her port, forward sponson. Fortunally, the Garvel Drydock company at Greenock was able to commence repairs immediately…
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