Para Handy

Para Handy the fictional character, skipper of the Clyde Puffer (steamboat) Vital Spark that plied to and from Glasgow to Scotland's west coast sea lochs and islands with cargoes of coal and cement and often returned with barrels of whisky.

The series of stories was first published in 1905 in the Glasgow Evening News written by the journalist and author Neil Munro under the pen name of Hugh Foulis.

The stories convey the sense of purpose, mischief and humour of an era that ended with the advent of Ro-Ro ferries.

So here we are today over a hundred years later and yet another new edition is on the bookshelves.

So the legend prevails and the west coast continues to be full of characters just like Para Handy but sadly few Puffers have survived.