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April 2005 news

The March Meeting took place on April 1st due to the last Friday in March being Easter Friday.
It was a pleasure and a privilege to welcome two experienced and respected shipping enthusiasts, Robin Boyd and Eric Schofield, to the Club to hear them address the careers of “ The Two Claymores 1955 and 1978”.
The two speakers were rewarded with an excellent turnout from the Club.
Robin opened the evening with his talk on CLAYMORE 1955 built by the Dumbarton yard of William Denny & Brothers Ltd. After giving a brief history of the ship, he talked about his own travels on board CLAYMORE illustrated by an excellent selection of slides.
The CLAYMORE of 1978, the third ship to bear the name, was built by Henry Robb of Leith and launched on 31st August. As one would expect Eric’s research was meticulous in detail. He illustrated his talk by showing slides of the 1978 ship at nearly every port at which she called.
CLAYMORE 1978 is still sailing in Scottish waters. Now owned by Pentland Ferries, she sails across the Pentland Firth from Gills Bay, Caithness to St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay.
Robert Cleary asked the Club to show their appreciation with a hearty vote of thanks.
Robert announced that the Clyde River Steamer Club is organising two charters for the summer. On Saturday 14th May the CRSC will charter the WAVERLEY for an evening sail from Largs leaving at 1830 and returning at 2130. On Wednesday 27th July the Club has arranged a unique charter of the SHEIDHALL. Departing Greenock at 1000 she will sail around Loch Long, Loch Goil, Holy Loch, the Cowal Coast, the Largs Channel and Great Cumbrae before returning to Greenock at 2000.
SHEIDHALL celebrates her 50th anniversary this year having been launched on 7th July 1955 from the Renfrew yard of Lobnitz & Company Ltd.
A link to the Clyde River Steamer Club can be found on the links page of this website.
Hamish Stewart reports that the NLB ship PHAROS is for sale.
All the CalMac ships are now on their summer rosters apart from EIGG, which is still at Port Askaig. ISLE OF ARRAN is on the wires at Gourock.
The next Meeting is the AGM and will take place on April 22nd. After the close of business Committee Members will show a selection of slides.

The Centenary paddler PS PIONEER (II) was launched from A & J Inglis, Glasgow in February 2005 and ran trials on 25th March achieving a speed of 14 knots.
In April PIONEER entered service on the Islay run, taking the place of GLENCOE, a route on which she remained until 1939. It is unknown if she worked elsewhere, however photographic evidence suggests that she was in the Mallaig area in 1907.
PIONEER had a more modern appearance than her predecessors being plated up to the bow. Her paddle boxes did not project above the promenade deck. The paddles were smaller but running at high revolutions. The single funnel was positioned well forward with the bridge abaft it. The engines were diagonal compound with power supplied by a hatstack boiler.
PIONEER became a capable and reliable member of the fleet, faithfully serving Islay and Jura. Port Ellen was her destination four days a week and Port Asksaig the other two. After the First World War, she sailed to each alternately but always spent the weekends at Port Ellen. She called at Craighouse, Jura, on her way to Port Askaig and at Gigha when sailing to Port Ellen. On occasions she also sailed to Bruichladdich.
The only alteration made to PIONEER was the substitution of the MacBrayne paddle box fan vents for the horizontal type. She was the only vessel to sail with the non standard type for any length of time.
In 1939 PIONEER was succeeded on the Islay route by the new motor ship, LOCHEIL. After being employed on summer excursion work from Oban she returned briefly to West Loch Tarbert as the Pier was being rebuilt for the LOCHEIL. She relieved on the Portree route in 1940 and in 1941 – 2, carried out cattle ferrying duties when relieving on the Sound of Mull run.
Following a period of lay-up she was requisition by the Admiralty and stationed at Fairlie where she was used as the Headquarters of the submarine control for the North Atlantic. Our humble paddler was then fitted out as a research ship under the Director of Submarine Warfare in connection with under-water telephone work. Having much valuable equipment on board, she was purchased outright in 1945 and renamed HARBINGER. In January 1946 she returned to Ingles, the yard in which she was built, where her paddle wheels were removed to aid towage to Portland Harbour. Here she remained for just over eleven years being used as a floating laboratory. On 8th March 1958, after a lifespan of fifty-eight years, HARBINGER ex PIONEER (II) was towed to Rotterdam for scrapping.
PIONEER (II) is pictured on the February page of the Club Calendar at Craighouse, Jura. Photograph courtesy of the Alasdair Aitken Collection.
It is hoped that a talk will be given on “ The Three Pioneers 1844, 1905 and 1974” at a Club Meeting later in the year.

On Thursday 24th March PS WAVERLEY entered the Garvel Drydock for her annual overhaul. All being well, on Friday 29th April, she will leave Glasgow at 0700 bound for Oban calling at Largs, Campbeltown and Port Ellen arriving at the West Highland Port at 2030.
WAVERLEY will be sailing among the Highlands and Islands until Monday 9th May when she returns to Ayr.
On Saturday 7th she embarks on the much anticipated call at the Island of Rum. The last ship of note to call at Rum was KING GEORGE V in 1970 when she was chartered by The Highlands and Islands Development Board. It is not known when the last paddle steamer called at the Island. If any Members know of paddlers calling at Rum please contact the Club.
WAVERLEY will be tendered, upon arriving at Rum, by Arisaig Marine’s SHEERWATER. She will drop anchor within the waters of Loch Scresort.
WAVERLEY will not be sailing round Staffin Island this year. Instead, on Friday 6th, she will sail from Portree into the waters of Loch Torridon. She will, however, be repeating the memorable call at the Island of Coll on Saturday 8th. Many Members will remember lying on the heather-clad hillside watching WAVERLEY arriving and departing from Arinagour Pier, in May 2003, while having their lunch. Let us hope we are blessed with similar weather this year.
Many thanks to Iain Quinn for his assistance in compiling the above report.

After a meeting with the Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne, Dr. Harold Mills, Transport Minister Nichol Stephen has declared that Clyde and Hebridean ferry services will not go out to tender until all options and alternatives have been discussed with the European Commission.
Mr Stephen is challenging the need to put the services out to tender, which is what Trade Unions, MSPs, local communities, and CalMac employees want him to do.

Mallaig Councillor Charlie King is pleased to note that Caledonian MacBrayne are promoting the Mallaig-Armadale ferry route. He is pleasantly surprised to report a healthy number of visitors to the Mallaig area during the Easter break. However he is of the opinion that the Scottish Executive, having paid for the removal of tolls on the Skye Bridge, should be equally prepared to pump money into the tourist industry in Mallaig and the Sleat area of Skye.

02/04/05.

LORD OF THE ISLES is out of service with stabiliser problems today (03/04). ISLE OF ARRAN left Gourock yesterday arriving at Oban at 1730. LOTI was spotted leaving Oban running light perhaps on trials at around 1600. IOA is covering her runs in the meantime.
EIGG is back on the Lismore run.
Many thanks to Iain Quinn for the above information.

03/04/05.

Caledonian MacBrayne’s new state of the art passenger terminal facility opened in Oban today.
The new building, which cost £3 million, covers three stories. The Ticket Office, Tourshop, Toilets, and a Secure Area for Cruise Passengers will be on the Ground Floor. The First Floor will encompass a Retail and Passenger Waiting Area while Staff Offices will be on the Second Floor.
CalMac are pleased to announce that a Left Luggage facility is now available to passengers. Sadly though the Company will not be providing trolleys for luggage.
The new terminal will conform to current disability legislation. Lifts are provided for the use of customers with reduced mobility.
The full potential of the new terminal will not be realised until the question of the second linkspan is resolved. It is hoped that covered walkways will run from the First Floor to and from the vessels.
The old terminal will now be demolished and additional car lanes will be provided.
A formal opening will be held later in the year.
A free ticket and a bottle of champagne were given to the first customer to use the new facility before boarding the ISLE OF MULL.

04/04/05.

LORD OF THE ISLES has returned to service following problems with her stabilisers. The breakwater protecting the slipway at Eriskay has been damaged as a result of the storms last January.
The former Eigg flit boat, LAIG BAY, is laid up at Corpach.

06/04/05.

Services were disrupted today (07/04) due to the weather. The Mallaig-Armadale, Ullapool-Stornoway, Tarbert-Portavadie and the Small Isles services were all cancelled. ISLE OF ARRAN tied up at Colonsay overnight as she struggled to return to the Clyde.

07/04/05.

Jura ferryman, Arthur MacEachern, has retired after 36 years service as skipper of the island’s ferries including the present ferry, EILEAN DHIURA. Islanders marked the occasion by having a party. Arthur was presented with a cheque, a camera and a bottle of champagne.

09/04/05.

A tunnel engineer from Norway has been invited to the Island of Luing to investigate the possibility of a tunnel between the island and the mainland. The engineer, Eivind Grov, has been invited by The Fixed Link Action Group (FLAG) after representatives of the island attended a meeting last month in Orkney where Mr. Grov was speaking. Orkney Islands Council is considering the possibilities of building a tunnel to the mainland.
The island ferry, BELNAHUA, is now 30 years old and due for replacement.

Caledonian MacBrayne will renew its support for Am Mod Naiseanta Rioghail, (The Royal National Mod). This years Mod will take place in Stornoway from 14th – 22nd October.
CalMac is producing a new Safety and Security Video to welcome customers to the Company’s services and facilities.

An enterprising fisherman has started a high-speed daily service from Tarbert, Harris to St Kilda. Angus Campbell will run a 42ft custom built fast motor cruiser that comfortably holds twelve passengers and two crew. The cruiser will cover the distance in 2 ¼ hours. A fishing boat would take 16 hours to do the 60-mile trip.
Mr. Campbell’s day trips are a direct response to the increasing number of enquiries from holidaymakers keen to venture to what is the most isolated place in the British Isles. Bookings will cost £80 per day. Among those who have expressed an interest are people whose grandparents came from St Kilda. The National Trust for Scotland has taken care of the St Kilda archipelago since 1956. Until recently the Ministry of Defence maintained a radar base on the main island, Hirta. No permanent residents have lived on the island since 1930 when the islanders were evacuated.
The Orme Bros & Co vessel SS DUNARA CASTLE (1875) not only visited St Kilda on summer trips, but also took part in the evacuation of the islanders. DUNARA CASTLE passed into the combined McCallum, Orme & Co Ltd fleet in 1929 and to David McBrayne Ltd on 1st January 1948.
The John McCallum & Co ship SS HEBRIDES (1898) also visited St Kilda on summer trips, passing into the combined fleet in 1929 and to David McBrayne Ltd on 1st January 1948.
In 1978 Caledonian MacBrayne’s COLUMBA sailed to St Kilda from Oban as a celebration of the Centenary of David MacBrayne Ltd. This trip was an outstanding success and the following year she repeated the experience. Sailing from Oban, COLUMBA anchored in Village Bay and circumnavigated Hirta and the surrounding islands. The anniversary this time was quite sad – for it marked the fiftieth anniversary of the evacuation of St Kilda.

17/04/05.

Due to adverse weather conditions the Oban-Colonsay service was cancelled on Sunday 17th. BRUERNISH was covering the Lismore route also on the 17th. LOCH STRIVEN has gone to Stornoway for unknown repairs. LOCH LINNHE is covering the Sconser-Raasey service and BRUERNISH has moved to Tobermory. CORUISK appears to have problems because the 1305 ex Armadale and the 1345 ex Mallaig were cancelled today (19/04).

Caledonian MacBrayne have launched a new “Caledonian MacBraynewave” television advert. It will run for six weeks on Scottish Television.

19/04/05.

Problems abounding from 19th to 23rd. LOCH STRIVEN was slipped at Ardmaleish at 1100 on Thursday 21st having stayed overnight at Campbeltown. She is due to leave on Monday 25th. LOCH LINNHE is on the Raasey run with BRUERNISH on the Kilchoan run. With EIGG out of action at Oban Lismore presently does not have a vehicular service, passengers having to use the Port Appin ferry. One would have thought that Lismore would get priority over Kilchoan but who knows what goes on in the minds of CalMac management.
LOCH RIDDON was at Tarbert on 19th covering for ISLE OF CUMBRAE, which is at Ardmaleish having a leak fixed. Once repaired she relieved LOCH RIDDON which sailed round to Tayinloan to take over from LOCH RANZA. She is returning to Ardmaleish to have repairs done to a Voith unit.
Due to engine trouble CLANSMAN did not sail on the 0900 Tiree-Barra service on 21st. Passengers for Barra sailed on the 1510 service to Lochboisdale on board LORD OF THE ISLES. It was hoped that an evening service to Tiree would go ahead should repairs be completed on CLANSMAN.
EIGG headed down to the James Watt Dock, Greenock on 23rd. Still no cars being carried to Lismore. RAASEY, having been spare at Oban, is on the wires at Gourock.
ISLE OF ARRAN seems to be dotting to and from Gourock, Dunoon and Rothesay.
Many thanks to Iain McPherson, Iain Quinn, Robin Love and Hamish Stewart for the above information.

24/04/05.

The 37th Annual General Meeting took place on 22nd April with the President, Duncan Wilson, in the Chair. Duncan opened the Meeting by giving a warm welcome to The Honorary President, Mr. John Whittle.
Following the Apologies for Absence the Minutes of the 36th AGM were approved and accepted. The Minutes of the EGM held on 29th October were also approved and accepted.
In The President’s Report Duncan told the Club that he had enjoyed the first year of his Presidency very much and that he hoped that he had introduced the Meetings in an acceptable manner. He has been encouraged by the healthy attendance of Meetings throughout the Winter Session.
The Club has had two Guest Speakers. In October Mr Bill Davidson, Chief Executive of Northlink Ferries, addressed the Club and in January, Captain Ron Bailey, Clydeport Harbourmaster, gave a most entertaining address. In December Iain Quinn presented the joint Meeting with The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. His subject was The Slides of the Late John Nicholson. Hamish Stewart was on form with an excellent display of slides in February while in March, Robin Boyd and Eric Schofield discussed the careers of The Two Claymores 1955 and 1978.
Duncan advised the Club that the website is up and running. He paid tribute to Derek Crawford and Stephen Dalziel who were responsible for creating the original site.
The Committee met on three occasions during the year. Duncan thanked his colleagues for their support and guidance and looks forward to working with them over the following year.
Duncan concluded his report by thanking Gordon Law who continues to produce the Club Calendar, Hamish Stewart who looks after the sale of photographs and, in particular, Derek Crawford and Ian McCrorie who have been working behind the scenes collecting and writing information for the Newsletter.
The Meeting continued with the Treasurer’s Report. Robin Love told the Club that, although the finances are in a healthy state, it is most disappointing that membership has fallen to 266. Photographs are a big earner however the Club has lost money on the Calendar. Lawrence MacDuff will continue as the Club Auditor.
As the Committee enters the second year of a two-year cycle all Members remain in place.
The Secretary, George Fairbairn, read out various ideas for the Syllabus for the 2005-06 Winter Session. He was happy to report that two Speakers are already in place for the forthcoming Session.
As there was no more Competent Business The President brought the Meeting to a close.
After the formal part of the evening Arthur McDonald on behalf of Gordon Law, Ian Somerville, Robin Love, George Fairbairn and Iain Quinn showed a selection of slides. Subjects ranged from COLUMBA (1878) up to the present day.
The AGM brings the Winter Session, 2004-05, to a close.

Caledonian MacBrayne has won Best Cruise/Ferry Operator in the Travelmole.com website awards. The Ceremony took place in London on April 22nd.

The people of Lochboisdale are optimistic that they will get a new ferry service from Mallaig by 2007. This would be good news for Barra, Coll, Colonsay and Tiree, as it would free up to 33 hours of sailing time as a result of removing the dogleg from Oban to North Uist. Lochboisdale has argued for the link to Mallaig more so than Castlebay. The people of Barra would not be happy if they lost their link to Oban. Travel between Barra and South Uist would be via Eriskay and the adjoining causeway. Travelling time to Lochboisdale at present is five hours from Oban. The time from Mallaig would be three hours. A twice-daily service is envisaged during the summer, which would be cut to one during the winter. A new ship designed for Mallaig will cost £16 million.

24/05/05.

PS WAVERLEY set sail for her season among the Western Isles on schedule at 0700 on Friday 29th April with 300 people on board. She picked up another 50 at Largs and Campbeltown en route to Oban where she was scheduled to arrive at 2030.
The call at Port Ellen was dropped due to the strong winds, which nearly prevented her from rounding the Mull of Kintyre.
This writer, following work commitments, took the train from Glasgow on Friday night and was relieved to see WAVERLEY at the North Pier, Oban. LORD OF THE ISLES was just arriving from Colonsay as the train pulled into the station.
Saturday brought an overcast but dry morning. The writer walked down to Ardconnel Terrace where he watched LOTI heading out to Lochboisdale and ISLE OF MULL arriving from Craignure. Ian Somerville, Iain Quinn and Hamish Stewart all had the same idea. We were all travelling on WAVERLEY and would meet on board later on.
WAVERLEY left Oban at 1000 with 300 on board. Soon we were heading up the Sound of Mull into a stiff westerly wind. Lots of well-known faces were enjoying the sail, all in high spirits.
ISLE OF MULL passed to port with the backdrop of Duart Castle guarding the entrance to the Sound.
Tobermory, always a popular destination, saw an exchange of passengers, most of whom would embark on WAVERLEY for the return to Oban at 1900.
The familiar sight of Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse, a favourite spot for photographers, passed to port. Before long Iain Quinn was calling everyone out on deck to see Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, the most westerly point on the British mainland.
Straight ahead lay The Small Isles, Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna. Right on queue the cloud lifted and the Sgurr of Eigg could be seen in all its majesty. This writer climbed the Sgurr a few years ago and, of course, never saw anything from the top. As he was sailing away the cloud lifted and the top could be clearly seen. The glory of the Sgurr is that it seems to change shape as you sail round the Island. WAVERLEY sailed between Muck, Eigg and Rum, the paddler’s destination on Saturday 7th May. The soaring peaks of Rum dwarfed the ship, leaving everyone on board lost for words.
WAVERLEY arrived at Armadale, Skye at 1500. Never the most photogenic of locations however the writer took his leave of the ship and managed to take a number of photos from the stone quay opposite the pier.
The world’s last sea going paddle steamer left Armadale at 1630 to be replaced with the most ungainly and cumbersome looking craft ever produced by Caledonian MacBrayne – CORUISK. Give credit where it is due – she was right on time at 1700. After a swift crossing to Mallaig the writer was on the scenic route to Fort William, the magnificent railway line, which opened in 1901. The splendid view from Glenfinnan Viaduct which looks over Loch Shiel makes the journey all the more worthwhile.
The railway passes Corpach Basin at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal. Some interesting shipping can often be seen here. Today the local cruise boat SOUTARS LASS was moored in the Basin.
Sunday morning and a few brave souls got up early to make the 0700 departure from Oban to Fort William. An overcast day again but dry and a light breeze greeted us as we left Fort William at 1000 bound for Oban, The Four Lochs Cruise and the eagerly anticipated Corryvreckan Whirlpool.
Soon we were passing the Corran Narrows where the ferry CORRAN crossed from Ardgour ahead of us. The elderly ROSEHAUGH lay at anchor. She saw service at Kessock at the entrance to the Beauly Firth before the Kessock Bridge opened in 1982.
Iain Quinn was not long in drawing our attention to the cruise ship FUNCHAL which lay at the north end of Kerrera just outside Oban Bay. This fine ship, built in Denmark in 1961, still presents the observer with a sleek and handsome profile.
WAVERLEY soon arrived at Oban with the rain sweeping in over McCaigs Tower, the town’s prominent landmark. Fortunately it did not last long. Any more rain amounted to little more than a light drizzle. With 350 people on board the paddler pointed her bow south into the Sound of Kerrera. Before long we had the Island of Luing to port and the Garvellachs to starboard. At the south end of Luing we turned north and headed up the Sound of Shuna. Even with Iain’s commentary a map is always handy for this part of the cruise. After heading into Loch Melfort we turned south again and passed Lochs Craignish and Crinan. Unfortunately the pier at Crinan is no longer useable. WAVERLEY paddled west through the stretch of water known as Dorus Mor before heading for the Gulf of Corryvrecken, which lies between the Islands of Jura to the south and Scarba to the north. The influence of the tidal race, which runs through the Gulf and causes the Whirlpool, can be felt quite far out to sea. A pinnacle of rock, which sticks up from the seabed, causes the Whirlpool. As we passed through the Gulf the entire ship’s complement must have been on deck each and everyone stunned into silence. A sigh of relief could be felt throughout the ship as we headed north again with Scarba on our starboard side.
All too soon the lights of Oban could be seen twinkling in the dusk. Friends bade farewell, some planning to meet the following day. The weekend had finished for your writer. After watching WAVERLEY sailing into the sunset he made his way to the railway station and boarded the train back to Glasgow.

Duncan Wilson 1st May 2005

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