6th October 1958:
Cardiff Queen
Monday 6th October 1958 was the last day of the season for Cardiff Queen with four round trips on the Cardiff/Weston ferry. She was due away from Cardiff (9.30am) for
October 2025:
Collecting
The conductor Richard Bonynge, who has just celebrated his 95th birthday, confesses that he sees his passion for collecting as a disease. His Chalet Monet in Les Avants above Montreux
5th October 1927:
Waverley
We saw in an earlier post how the Southern Railway offered trips taking advantage of timings for “Early Closing Day” when shops generally closed for business on Wednesday afternoons. P
4th October 1919:
Duchess of Devonshire
At 10am on Saturday 4th October 1919 Duchess of Devonshire returned to her winter lay-up berth at Exmouth from Bristol. She left Bristol on Thursday 2nd October and spent the
3rd October 1997:
Waverley
On Friday 3rd October 1997 Waverley left Tilbury (9.40am) for Southend (11am) and Chatham (12.30pm) where I berthed her alongside the quay wall just to the north of Thunderbolt Pier.
8th September 1954:
Last Paddle Steamer at Folkestone
I believe that before Waverley came on the scene, the second last paddle steamer scheduled to call at, and pick up from, Folkestone Harbour was, rather improbably given her name,
2nd October 1965:
Paddle Tug Grinder
The ever indefatigable Mrs Eileen Pritchard (PSPS Member number 1) organised a visit to the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service Paddle Tug Grinder at Portsmouth for 11am on Saturday 2nd October
1st October 2025:
Lake Geneva October 2025
The CGN has published the timetable for October on Lake Geneva. Montreux and Italie are scheduled to be in service every day until Sunday 12th October with Montreux based at
1st October 1953:
Embassy
Embassy was rostered to make her last trips of the 1953 season from Bournemouth on Thursday 1st October. She was due away from her overnight berth alongside Poole Quay at
30th September 1965:
Sandown and Ryde
On Thursday 30th September 1965 the Portsmouth/Ryde paddle steamers Sandown and Ryde were both tucked up for the winter in Newhaven Harbour. Sandown had been the first to cast off
29th September:
Richard Bonynge at 95
The legendary opera and ballet conductor Richard Bonynge celebrated his 95th birthday on 29th September. His main home, which he shared with his wife until her death in 2010, is
29th September 1964:
Jeanie Deans
On Tuesday 29th September 1964, Jeanie Deans made her last movement under her own steam of the season leaving Craigendoran on the morning tide for her lay up berth in
28th September 1945:
Empress
Just three weeks after the surrender of Japan brought the Second World war to a close, Cosens’s paddle steamer Empress set off from Weymouth for the Medway on 26th September
27th September 1963:
Embassy
Embassy’s last trips of the 1963 season were scheduled for Thursday 26th September for a departure from Poole Quay at 9am for Bournemouth from where she was due to leave
26th September 1956:
Britannia
Wednesday 26th September 1956 was the last day in service of P & A Campbell’s one time flagship paddle steamer Britannia. This was later than had been planned. Indeed Britannia
25th September 1963:
Consul
On Wednesday 25th September 1963 Consul was due back in Weymouth after a pretty disastrous season trying to run from Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings followed by a somewhat difficult week
24th September 1965:
Vecta
At the end of the 1965 season P & A Campbell bought Red Funnel’s Isle of Wight excursion vessel and Southampton/Cowes ferry Vecta to join their Bristol Channel fleet. She
23rd September 1955:
Consul
Friday 23rd September was the last scheduled day of the 1955 season for Consul with an “Afternoon Tea Cruise to the Bill of Portland” advertised in the steamer notice for
22nd September 1958:
Glen Usk
On Monday 22nd September 1958 Glen Usk was withdrawn from service earlier in the season than had been planned and was replaced by Cardiff Queen. The previous day, Sunday 21st
21st September 1985:
Kingswear Castle
After having been returned to operational condition with full passenger certificates in May 1985, Kingswear Castle ran a trip from Strood and the Historic Dockyard Chatham on 21st September through
