Waverley Paddle Steamer

[Ali Hipperson]

[Graham Ritchie]

Brilliant Ali

We saw this painting while visiting Dunoon 1992, we just had to buy it and bring it back with us to NZ

[Ali Hipperson]

Graham, my sister visited me a month ago and we went over to Dunoon for the day and took some pictures from that very same statue and viewing point!

Waverley Update: Due to what was described as 'technical and administration issues' the Waverley's first scheduled passenger sailing since her boiler refit was cancelled last Friday. She was due in Rothesay last Sunday but again didn't arrive! Her next visit here was due yesterday, but given that storm Francis hit most of the UK at the same time I'm guessing she didn't make it again.

Her next visit is due this Friday and I will once again go down to the town and try and get some pictures and video footage and put it on here 🤞

Ali.

[Graham Ritchie]

By the way folks, that statue that we see in photos and videos here, is known as "Highland Mary" ie Mary Campbell from Dunoon. She is looking across the Firth Of Clyde to Ayrshire to where Robert Burns once lived.

[Ali Hipperson]

At last - PS Waverley finally arrived and stopped off on its travels in Rothesay, Bute 😊....pics to follow.

[Ali Hipperson]

[Ali Hipperson]

[Ali Hipperson]

[Graham Ritchie]

Excellent Ali

This might be of interest but the first Waverley was built in 1899 here are some photos from the 1930s, The first photo is showing the Waverley berthed at Rothesay, the Jupiter is the one leaving.

It should be noted that she was converted to a minesweeper in 1939. On 29th May, when in use at the Dunkirk evacuation, she was bombed and sank with heavy loss of life.

[Ali Hipperson]

Fascinating Graham and great pictures!

It will have to wait until next summer now - but I hope to dust-off my Sankyo XL620 camera and shoot my first 50' of Super8 film in about 30yrs and make a short film of PS Waverley with commentary and music and post it on YouTube 🤞

Ali.

[Brian Fretwell]

Some bad news about the Waverley tonight. It seems it approached Brodick pier on Arran too fast, 17 injured.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...-west-54011504

[Graham Ritchie]

That's a shame Brian.

Its not the first time she has come to grief. If I remember right, about reading long ago, how she landed up on the rocks at the Gantocks opposite Dunoon back in the 1970s. It was thought then by many, that might be the end of her, thankfully that was not the case. I might be wrong, but I am pretty sure when she got stuck, it was the good ole US navy from the nearby Holy Loch Nuclear submarine base, that sent tugs to her assistance that time.

After being towed of the rocks, she was taken to the old coal pier in Dunoon as this photo shows where after inspection, her fate was to be decided.

[Paul Adsett]

Apparently the bow of the Waverley has been severely damaged, Back to the dry dock and a ton of money to repair it, Can't believe this has happened, somebody really screwed up.

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes the bow doesn't look good in the first photo in that BBC article. I hope they get the money and the repair done soon.

[Ali Hipperson]

Well, I bumped into a guy I know in town yesterday and we were talking about the incident and according to him the Waverley had a similar mishap only a few years ago - under the same Captain! 😲

Apart from government grants, a lot of funding for the recent boiler refit was raised from the islanders throughout the country - in these difficult times, I'm not sure who will finance this latest need??

Ali.