Paddle Steamer Waverley and Turbine Steamer Queen Mary 18th June 1977

In this rare footage from the 18th June 1977, we see the Paddle Steamer Waverley and Turbine Steamer Queen Mary off Tighnabruaich.
Waverley (who turned 30 two days earlier) was on a combined charter with the PSPS and the Severn Valley Railway Society having sailed from Glasgow Anderston Quay, Helensburgh, Kilcreggan, Gourock, Rothesay and finally Tighnabruaich. Queen Mary was also on charter that day and also started her day at Glasgow’s Anderston Quay. Queen Mary was on a cruise round the Isle of Bute. Both steamers were dressed overall for the official celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee.
The music to this video is Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”. This was regularly played over Waverley’s tannoy system when Waverley and Queen Mary would often meet each other where the East and West Kyles of Bute would merge. This tradition lasted long after Queen Mary was withdrawn and was played up until a few years ago.
While Waverley was just beginning a new life under preservation, Queen Mary’s active passenger carrying days came to an end on the 12th September 1977. She was laid up in the East India Harbour in Greenock. She was sold and left her home waters of the Clyde on the 29th January 1981 .Her first new owners failed to do anything with the ship. Her fortunes changed when Bass PLC purchased her and she was converted to her new role as a floating bar/restaurant in Chatham at a cost of £2.5 Million.
Her new home was to be on the Victoria Embankment in the heart of London. The berth she occupied had been used by another Clyde Steamer the (Old) Caledonia which was sadly destroyed by fire the previous year.
Queen Mary operated in this role until she was towed away in November 2009 to Tilbury docks where she lay forlornly for the next 7 years. She was once again put up for sale.
Since August 2015, TS Queen Mary has been under the ownership of the Charity, “Friends of TS Queen Mary”, which was formed in 2012 to safeguard the future of the ship.
The TS Queen Mary arrived back in her home waters of the Clyde on the 15th May 2016, following an absence of 25 years. Since her return to the Clyde, “The Friends of TS Queen Mary” have put the ship through a major dry docking, which was the first stage of an estimated £2,000,000 restoration, as a static heritage destination.
On the 9th November 2016 she was moved to her temporary winter layup berth next to the Glasgow Science Centre at the entrance of the much reduced Prince's Dock in Glasgow from a lay-up berth next to the Garvel Dry dock in the James Watt Dock Greenock.
On the 17th August 2017 the “Friends of TS Queen Mary” announced that the TS Queen Mary is expected to be moored permanently at the Glasgow Science Centre where she will serve as a heritage destination and education/training centre. TS Queen Mary will be berthed "bow on" to the Millennium Bridge, where she will be both connected to the SSE Hydro and SECC complexes and also right in the heart of Glasgow’s media village. In this location, she will welcome up to 150,000 visitors and students each year.
Recently all of TS Queen Mary’s original brass work including: the ships builders plaques, bell, Bridge and Engine room Telegraphs, her wheel and various other items. These will hopefully be refitted for the public to see once she re-opens in her new berth in Glasgow.
Footage from the Dr Joe McKendrick collection.
Why not join the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society today-new members are always welcome.
For full details visit www.paddlesteamers.org/join/

[@Lisa-tp4sf]

Fantastic video. I have been on both.

[@capspread]

I recently obtained a cine film of a trip on the River Clyde featuring various ports and following research found that the film was taken from the TS Queen Mary II. It was taken during the 1960s. The PS Waverley is seen at Rothesay. I converted it to digital and is now on my KZbin channel.

[@PSPSScottishBranch]

A very interesting video indeed. The vessel berthing at Rothesay appears to be Waverley’s elder sister, Jeanie Deans. I believe it is also her that is at Dunoon earlier in the video.

[@PSPSScottishBranch]

On an additional note, it appears the master of Queen Mary on this occasion was Captain John Cameron. You can see him on the bridge wing in some shots. We have an interview with him on our channel.

[@capspread]

@@PSPSScottishBranch I presume Dunoon appears shorly after the Royal Navy ship passes by?

[@capspread]

@@PSPSScottishBranch Thanks very much for you input - I will amend my description.

[@PSPSScottishBranch]

Indeed! And it appears again where the Queen Mary is alongside with passengers on the pier. The gentlemen onboard are leaning over the side to see the goings on.

[@jimmcintosh9045]

I always thought Queen Mary looked a more impressive ship with her single business- like funnel. A shame her London owners stuck skinny twin funnels on her.