The people's liners

[John Arton]

Excellent documentary on BBC4 tonight all about the excursion steamers (often paddle driven) that took day trippers on trips up and down the Bristol channel and the river Clyde in the 50's, 60's and 70's. It featured footage of those vessels packed full of day trippers and showing how they featured silver service dining for all amongst selling alcohol when alcohol sales were banned on Sundays etc. Had a number of guys who worked on them and featured the Balmoral, Waverly and Shieldhall amongst others. The Queen Mary was originally a Clyde paddle steamer and Cunard had to pay its owners a substantial sum to get them to rename it Queen Mary ll in order that they could use the name on their transatlantic liner.
If you missed it get it on catch up.
Rgds
J.A.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Hope we get it here John. Loved that programme "Vital Spark' with Para Handy. When I was working in the pipeline construction office in Coupar Angus of Turriff Taylor in 1975 they sent me to the Oil Terminal project on Flotta Island in Scappa Flow, Orkney to assist with the Christmas pay off. The old Ferry was a great trip, particularly when the wind was up. Richard

[John Arton]

You can watch it here.
Rgds
J.A.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...leasure-fleets

[Denis O'Shea]

John, remember going to Llandudno from the pier head but can't remember if it was a paddle steamer that had come down from Glasgow or the Royal Iris. Rgds Den

[Richard Quartermaine]

Thank you John. I could not get it at first but when I brought up BBC and registered for their news, etc. I got immediate access.
Richard