Newsletter Update

14th March, 2005

STOP PRESS. HOT NEWS: Hurrah! Champagne all round. The National Heritage Lottery Fund have promised us a substantial amount which together with the money we have already raised means we can go ahead with the boiler replacement programme. We still need funds for our future ongoing maintenance programme. We hope to have 'VIC 32' towed away from Crinan and the work will start soon on chopping off the funnel, engine room fiddley, preparing the boiler for removal by crane and lowering it on to a lorry to head down to Devon to be copied by Pridhams of Tavistock. Then the new boiler will be returned North and fitted into the boat and all will be made good, hopefully by late April 2006.

BOILER FAILURE In April, 2004, when the boiler failed its annual survey for insurance purposes it was felt that it was not worth repairing. We thought the expense and hard work of doing so wasn't going to achieve value for money as one would end up with a repaired 60 year old boiler which could fail again.

FUND RAISING Since then we have been actively fundraising for a new boiler and for replacing the hull plating in that area whilst the opportunity allows. Now that we have probably achieved raising the money for this job we have a new appeal out for refurbishment of the condenser and continuing the hull replacement programme.

ART SALES We have raised to date, £34,000 by public appeal through the Friends of VIC 32 newsletter, (The Calliope) and articles in newspapers. We have opened the boat to the public on occasions and sold our tea towels, mugs and T-shirts, etc. We had a tremendous sale of art given to us by local artists and by artists from far afield. The sale in the Crinan Hotel raised over £13,000 . Since then we have been given some more works of art and you may view and/or buy the art on line on our web site Art for Sale web page.

If you are an artist and would like to give a work of art to the Puffer Preservation Trust for sale, please telephone or write for the appropriate form which gives us permission to sell it on the internet.

Last summer we were very kindly offered a day free of charge in the geodesic dome at Ardfern. A great day was had by all. We made over £500 in side shows; dig in the sand for treasure, bottle stall and stick a pin with a raffle ticket on it in a chart to find out where Para Handy dropped his pipe overboard. Rachel and I were ably helped by Robert Walker, Martin MacLellan, Margaret Knight, (Rachel's Mum), Clive and Jan Brown and Sarah and Katharine Walker. Thanks must also go to Ardfern Boatyard who provided a free mooring for the 'Duke of Normandy 11' which was used as a base camp. The Boat Band entertained us in the evening with their Cajun music.

FUTURE FUNDING We have been promised £10,000 by the Manifold Trust, the Tay Trust have given us £1,000 and we are hoping for assistance from other bodies. The National Heritage Lottery Fund have promised us a large sum which together with the money we have already raised means we can go ahead with the boiler replacement program.

We still need ideas for future fund raising.

SLIDE SHOW: 'The West Highland Way' Jimmie Maggregor has kindly agreed to give a slide show in Ardrishaig Village Hall at 7 pm on April 29th, 2005.

Tickets £6.00 available from: either:
Nick Walker at
The Change House, Crinan Ferry,
Lochgilphead,
Argyll, PA 31 8QH
Tel: 01546 510 232 or email Nick Walker

or contact Alan or Val Cameron at the Square Peg in Lochgilphead.

COMPETITION We announce a Competition for 'Guessing the Weight of the Boiler'. The aluminium cladding and the ceramic insulation will have been removed as will some of the fittings. You can have as many guesses as you like but each one will cost you £1.00. For details please click here.

The competition will end when the boiler is weighed whenever that is! The weight of the boiler will be announced in the next issue of the Calliope. The winner will meanwhile have been told of his or her good fortune in winning the Prize of £200.

FUTURE WORK We thought it would be a good idea to refurbish the condenser while we have a large hole above it to get it out! We are continuing to re-plate the hull as and when we get the finances. The double plating and original sheathing will be removed and replaced with new plating.

FUTURE HOLIDAYS, possibly starting from MAY, 2006. A new Company which has taken over from Highland Steamboat Holidays Ltd., called Puffer Steamboat Holidays Ltd will in future be operating holidays on board 'VIC 32' It is envisaged that after the new boiler has been fitted there will be a running in period. We hope to run day cruises from Crinan pier for a while to make sure that all is well and only when we are satisfied will we be advertising 5 day holidays.

WANT TO HELP? If you would like to assist, please consider donating some money by completing the Gift Aid form and posting it to me. If you are not already a 'Friend of VIC 32' you will automatically become one. Then you receive through the post, our annual newsletter called 'The Calliope'. This includes humorous maritime stories, anecdotes and general tom foolery! Also our annual accounts for both 'Friends of VIC 32' and the Puffer Preservation Trust, Co. Ltd.

GRATITUDE Thank you to our new Director, Mike Smith and to Jan Brown, our Fundraiser, who is working tirelessly on our behalf. Also thanks to our new Treasurer, Paul Smythe who works hard keeping us right.

Thank you to all the generous artists who have given their works to the Trust for the Sale which was held on September 17th, 2004. Thanks also to Jolomo, alias John Morrison for his and Maureen's generous support and to Iain and Wilma at the Archway Gallery, Lochgilphead. Also thanks to Alan and Val at the Square Peg and John and Sarah at Crinan Boatyard for raising funds for the cause.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to meeting you when the Puffer is up and running again.

Nick Walker

Read the previous Newsletters:

17th February, 2005
27th August, 2004