10th October 2022:
Chris Smith 1962 – 2022
Chris Smith, who has died of a heart attack aged 60, played a central role in the return to service of KC in the 1980s and her subsequent operation and
October 2022:
End of the 1960 Season
In 1960 there were still some paddle steamers running ferry services in the UK throughout the year including those on the Tay, Firth of Forth, Humber, Woolwich and between Lymington
17th September 2022:
The Queen
All of us at KC are very saddened to hear of the death of the Queen and send our condolences to the Royal Family. Along with all the multiplicity of
4th September 2022:
Waverley Returns To Swanage
Waverley returned to Swanage for the first time in four years around 12.30pm on Sunday 4th September during a cruise from Southampton and Yarmouth to view the Bournemouth Air Show.
September 2022:
How They Do It on Lake Geneva
A paddle steamer manager will have a multiplicity of things on their mind to keep the show on the road and deliver an enjoyable and reliable product for their passengers.
6th August 2022:
KC Rebuild Fund Raising Cruise
There are still some tickets available for the KC Rebuild Fund Raising Cruise aboard Dart Explorer leaving Dartmouth at 6.15pm due back 8pm on Saturday 13th August priced at Adult
August 2022:
Consul’s 1960 Season
Consul started her 1960 season on Saturday June 4th by running a shuttle service to Portland Navy Days from the Weymouth Pleasure Pier with departures on the hour every hour
31st July 2022:
First Lady Paddle Steamer Captain
The SGV Company has this season appointed Captain Rebecca Benz to be the first lady in the company’s history to command a paddle steamer on Lake Lucerne. She joined the
14th July 2022:
Recording for Times Radio aboard KC
Railway historian Tim Dunn was aboard KC in the shipyard on Thursday 14th July to record a piece called Stormy Weather about paddle steamers for Michael Portillo’s slot on Times
July 2022:
Embassy’s Catering 1960s
Embassy had her galley positioned on the port side sponson abaft the paddle box. The porthole closest to the camera in this picture was for the pantry which contained a
June 2022:
Thames & Sussex Coast Revival 1969
Although the excursion trade initially boomed in the aftermath of the Second World War, by the middle of the 1950s it was in steep decline. By the second half of
23rd May 2022:
KC to Return to Service in 2023
The plan of campaign for KC’s major rebuild had been to undertake the work over three winters. However so far this winter and spring things have gone so well that
May 2022:
Brighton Trips 1910
In late May and early June of 1910 P & A Campbell’s steamer trips from the Sussex Coast piers at Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings were in the hands of their
23rd April 2022:
KC Update
As the scale of the necessary work for Phase 1 of KC’s rebuild has unfolded as the aft part of the ship has been dismantled her return to service this
April 2022:
North Wales 1938
In the summer season of 1938 either the St Tudno or the St Seiriol was due away from the Liverpool Landing Stage at 10.45am every day up to September 26th
2nd April 2022:
KC Rebuild Presentation
Click on the link below to tune in to John Megoran’s YouTube presentation about rebuilding paddle steamers in general and Kingswear Castle in particular:
28th February 2022:
Rebuild Update
Work continues on Phase 1 of KC’s rebuild at Dartmouth renewing steelwork of the hull and structure of the ship as necessary and all the decks from the aft boiler
March 2022:
Sussex Coast 1957
With fierce competition from Cosens and what became Red Funnel, P & A Campbell moved their south coast operating base from Southampton to the Sussex Coast shortly after the start
February 2022:
Lake Geneva Paddler Italie
This winter the Lake Geneva paddler Italie is rostered to be in service operating a lunch cruise every Sunday in January, February, March and on up to 10th April leaving
January 2022:
Cosens Sailings 1962
1962 was the last season in which Cosens operated two paddle steamers. Embassy was based at Poole and ran between Swanage, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. Consul was based
