Megoran’s Musings

John Megoran recalls the heyday and decline paddle steamers, particularly the Weymouth based paddle steamers that he grew up with. He did not know then that he would go on to help restore, manage and be principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years.
Articles to enjoy
0
90 years ago

19th June 1935:
Royal Eagle

On Wednesday 19th June 1935 Royal Eagle was scheduled to sail from London Tower Pier at 9.20am down the Thames with calls at Greenwich, North Woolwich, Tilbury, Southend and Margate

Read More
65 years ago

18th June 1960:
Monarch

On Saturday 18th June 1960 Monarch departed from her usual Saturday schedule in June on the Swanage service to run a special trip to view the Royal Yacht Britannia with

Read More
69 years ago

17th June 1956:
Bournemouth Queen

On Sunday 17th June 1956 Red Funnel’s paddle steamer Bournemouth Queen ran down and sliced in half a sailing dinghy off Fawley in Southampton Water on her scheduled run on

Read More
72 years ago

16th June 1953:
Bristol Queen

Bristol Queen arrived back in Southampton at 1.10am on Tuesday 16th June 1953 after spending the previous day on charter for the Spithead Naval Review to Thomas Cook which included

Read More
74 years ago

13th June 1951:
Empress Queen

On Wednesday 13th June 1951 the finishing touches were being applied to P & A Campbell’s Empress Queen in readiness for her departure from the Bristol Channel to try her

Read More
77 years ago

12th June 1948:
Cardiff Queen

Saturday 12th June was the first day of the 1948 season for Cardiff Queen, her second year in service. She set off from Bristol at 9.30am under the command of

Read More
78 years ago

11th June 1947:
Empress Queen

Empress Queen was the first twin screw turbine steamer built for the otherwise paddle steamer loving P & A Campbell. And I think that it is fair to say that

Read More
89 years ago

10th June 1936:
Gracie Fields

On Wednesday 10th June 1936 Gracie Fields offered her first public excursion taking passengers on a trip from Southampton to view the liners Normandie and Queen Mary. Ordered in 1935

Read More
72 years ago

9th June 1953:
Emperor of India

The first trips of the 1953 season for Cosens’s largest paddle steamer and flagship of the fleet Emperor of India were scheduled for Tuesday 9th June, under the command of

Read More
65 years ago

9th June 1960:
South Coast Snapshot

In 1960 there were still eleven paddle steamers operating on the South Coast; Compton Castle, Consul, Embassy, Kingswear Castle, Monarch, Princess Elizabeth, Ryde, Sandown, Totnes Castle, Sussex Queen and Whippingham.

Read More
114 years ago

7th June 1911:
Princess Mary

On Tuesday 7th June 1911 work was continuing on putting the finishing touches to the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company’s (later rebranded

Read More
65 years ago

6th June 1960:
Sussex Queen

Whit Monday June 6th 1960 was scheduled to be the Sussex Queen’s second operating day of her first season sailing on the Sussex Coast. Steamer notices had been produced and

Read More