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Newsletter
Update
July,
2010
At the end of 2009 we went up the
new slipway at Crinan Boats for the
removal and replacement of stern plating
and the stern deck. Once work had
commenced on the stern it was seen
that some of the counter plating was
in need of replacing. This was an
extra not budgeted for, however, it
was not practical to do the original
work only and come back next year
to undo the new plating to replace
the counter. It was, therefore, decided
to go ahead. This did put a strain
on finances but, with the co-operation
of Crinan Boats, we cleared all invoices
by the beginning of May. Many thanks
to them for an excellent job and their
co-operation. It will mean, though,
that planned work will be delayed
until we can build up reserves.
During the work party
period Kenny Pirie and John Corral
worked in the fo'castle putting in
a new deck-head, the job was finished
by Colin Sharp, then the whole fo'castle
was given a complete make over to
brighten it up and make it a much
friendlier place for cooks and galley
slaves. Other work carried out by
work parties included making and fitting
new support legs for the radar mast,
preparing the dinghy, replacing the
light boxes in the cabins and the
many other jobs that are required
to make her ready for passengers,
such work is much appreciated by the
Trust.
Not long after the
work parties we were shocked to hear
that Kenny Pirie had died from heart
failure. His unique sense of humour,
his enthusiasm for the Puffer and
his excellent voice whilst singing
his Doric songs will be sadly missed.
One example of his sense of humour
is given...
Whilst departing Millport a yachtsman
cried out… “Where are
you bound for?”
The prompt reply
from Kenny... “The scrap yard!”
During our second cruise we called
at Dunoon for the first time in many
years. This was arranged by Guy Pate
who had spent two days on the work
party... a birthday present from his
wife whilst she stayed in the Crinan
Hotel! On the same trip, visits were
made to the James Watt dock in Greenock
to see the water hydraulic accumulator
and then a visit to the Coastguard
station to see their procedures. We
also stopped at the Titan crane where
passengers took the lift to the top
to see the video history of past shipbuilding,
along with the view and the chance
to look straight down the VIC's funnel.
With the weather deteriorating we
docked at Plantation Quay in the centre
of Glasgow and the next mornings weather
forecast of SW6/8 occasionally 9 then
WSW9 meant that we were staying in
Glasgow. The passengers took the opportunity
to visit the three master, Glen Lee,
the Transport Museum, Kelvin Art Gallery
and the many other attractions that
the city has to offer.
Later whilst on the
Caledonian Canal the cook and galley
slave took the opportunity to swim
in Loch Oick, diving from the boat
into, as they found out, the very
cold waters. They used the new 'Carley
float' to get out and then had to
rush into the engine room to warm
up! Whilst in Inverness use was made
of our taxi man Ian Fraser and his
brother who guided us around Cawdor
Castle and the Klava Cairns.
Earlier in the year
we had again participated in the Crinan
Classics with the Mid Argyll Pipe
Band playing as we entered the sea
lock.
In July we also had
the Coast programme and presenter
Neil Oliver on board for a days filming,
also present was Stewart Pearson who,
as a student in 1954, spent a year
working on the puffer CELT. The programme
is, we believe, to be screened in
mid Sept 2010 and will be number six
in the series. We also have a DVD
of Stewart retelling his experiences
which can be obtained from the puffer
shop.
Once again the Trust
wishes to thank all those who gave
valuable time and money to help keep
the VIC 32 steaming, their efforts
are greatly appreciated.
Mike Smith.
Read
the previous Newsletters:
June,
2009
February, 2008
4th June, 2007
4th November, 2005
9th
June, 2005
14th
March, 2005
17th February, 2005
27th
August, 2004
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