Always a sad sight

[Keith Tindell]

This off the welsh coast


Paddle steamer MV Oliver Cromwell sinks off Anglesey coast - BBC News kt

[cappy]

##i am pretty sure she is the same old girl that gave short trips from the vindi annual meetings down at sharpness ....never went on her myself but .......i believe she was well booked by old vindi hands .......she has gone were we all will go ...down to fiddlers green.......at least she went peacefully in her own time ......cappy

[Captain Kong]

We sailed on the OLIVER CROMWELL several times from Gloucester down the Canal to Sharpness for the annual Reunions at the Vindi, a Lovely Vessel. with a paddle at the stern.
Two to a cabin and en suite, a large dining room /concert room. and Bar.
It was cheaper than staying in the hotels around there, Four days alongside in Sharpness.and return to Gloucester about 20 miles away.
Then she failed her Survey and was banned from sailing down the canal. That was the least I heard of her,
So I was surprised that she was allowed to be towed into the Irish Sea.
Very sad watching her drown.
Brian

[Chris Allman]

Its very sad to see any vessel sink. I wonder if she had been surveyed to be seaworthy enough for the passage. She appears to have sprung a leak in the bow area, this would suggest possible hull corrosion, and plates / seams giving way under the water pressure of her forward movement through the water.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks Keith for highlighting this,
news to me.

Sad loss.

K.

[robpage]

I see all Media keeps calling it a paddle steamer we're technically it is a motor vessel and a paddle Wheeler . I get the impression that it was not suitable for further voyages over 5 years ago and not able to pass a survey I suspect that this has been towed without a survey to ascertain it's Sea Worthiness, I would have thought the sensible thing to have done would have been to a put it on a barge and tow The Barge . I suppose we have to be thankful there was no pollution and no injuries

[Barry M]

The 'Oliver Cromwell' was powered by a Gill Jet and the stern paddle-wheel, driven by a small electric motor, was really just a decorative feature to suit the image. However, I recall the Skipper at the time, saying that the wheel did have some effect in calm waters.
I heard that she was withdrawn from cruising on the Severn as she did not pay her way and, after that, she was moored at Gloucester as a floating restaurant. How she fared as that, I don't know.
She originally operated alongside another, smaller, vessel called the 'Edward Elgar which is still in service (under new owners?) and appears to be successful.
The news references to her as "historic" and a "paddle steamer" are bunk.
The
BM

[Captain Kong]

We were told at the time that she had failed her Survey as we wanted to use her again for our annual re union at the Vindi, she was always full every year.
The Paddle was just for decoration.

[Lucy Knight]

Tbere is a Chris Witts youtube starting with history of the Oliver Cromwell and next part is the towing and sinking which was being recorded. I was told by someone that the vessel only had tug on bow, none stern. Told, and I don't know if true, that vessel bumped wall of lock whrn being towed.

https://youtu.be/hHG9dPeZIUo

[Captain Kong]

Hi Lucy,
Many thanks for that Video,
I have sailed on her many times to our Annual Reunions in Sharpness for the Vindicatrix Association, Always had at least four or five days on her, join in Gloucester and a lovely trip down the canal to Sharpness and back.

So sad to see her go.
Many thanks again for the memory.
Cheers
Brian