PSV Waverley

The PSV Waverley returned to her home on the Clyde this week, celebrating 40 years since she was sold in 1975 for £1 by Caledonian MacBrayne.

This is a shot of the Waverley going under the Erskine Bridge this morning on her way 'doon the watter' to Custom House Quay in Greenock. Her cruise today included visits to Helensburgh, Dunoon, Rothesay and Tignabruaich. She looked stunning from the bridge, as she cut her way through the water.

The Waverley was built at the Pointhouse yard of A & J Inglis, at the mouth of the River Kelvin, and was launched in 1946. She is powered by a steam, triple-expansion, three-crank diagonal engine whose powerful action impresses all who sail on her, enthusiast and first-timers alike. Surprisingly quiet, she sails at about 14.5 knots. She was originally part of London and North Eastern Railway’s fleet, sailing a regular route between Arrochar and Craigendoran in the Firth of Clyde. Escalating running costs meant she was retired from commercial operation in 1974 and was rescued from the scrapyard, being bought for just £1 by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. Specialists and dedicated volunteers have restored her to her original condition, with the help of £7m grants from sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund, and she now operates each summer from Glasgow and around the British coast.

The Waverley is not only the last Clyde paddle steamer built, but also the last sea-going paddle steamer operational in the world.

The steamer carries around 130,000 passengers annually and was nominated by the Sunday Times as one of the top three nostalgic journeys in the world; it is operated on a charitable basis by Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

It is hard to believe that on this day last year a fire tore through the west wing of the Mackintosh Building at the GSA, destroying the renowned Mackintosh library, damaging stairwells and studios, the famous ‘hen run’ and roof and over 150 original pieces of Mackintosh furniture, leaving the world’s architectural community speechless. Work has started on the difficult task of reconstructing the Mackintosh Masterpiece.

Love this Kinks song, The Village Green Preservation Society sung by Kate Rusby.

Many thanks for all your lovely comments, stars and hearts this week and for putting my 'Puffin Talk' on the number one spot on the Popular page. Much appreciated.