Thames 2005: 10 October

Report by Martin Longhurst

Waverley's second week on the Thames was calm but rather grey, the sun being reluctant to make an appearance. However, the winds were also absent for most of the time so the whole week's programme was able to go ahead unchanged. Monday took the paddler light bright and early from Tilbury to Margate where she took up service for a trip to Whitstable, Southend and Tilbury for a non-landing cruise through Tower Bridge with coaches home.
Fortunately Tuesday was an off-service day, which was just as well as there was excitement in the river at Wapping after a fuel barge had sunk overnight. Wednesday saw the steamer reposition to Harwich by way of Southend and Clacton with an afternoon cruise to the River Stour from the Tendring port.   Thursday's trip was up river to Clacton, Southend, Tilbury and Tower Pier with round trips being offered from Tilbury and Southend. Friday was a Southend day with a daytime trip to the Upper Pool and back and then a one-way Evening Showboat trip to Tower Pier with coaches home.

This delivered the steamer to Central London ready for the weekend. Saturday took her to Southend and Whitstable, incorporating an evening trip from the Kent port with return by coach. On leaving London, some work boats were engaged in raising the sunken barge on the southern side of the river. The weather was fine for this trip until dusk when a few light showers were encountered. The ship was pretty full on the return leg, with over 300 Whitstable passengers on board.

Waverley alongside at Whitstable on 8 October

Cobelfret's Valentine inbound for Purfleet approaches the QE2 Bridge with two Dart Line ro-ro ships at their south bank terminal and Littlebrook Power Station in the background

Iain McCorkindale shows off his special shirt. He had the pleasure of spending a period on exchange to Lake Luzern earlier in the year.

Sunday was a clear, sunny day from start to finish as Waverley steamed to the River Medway, via Tilbury and Southend, to take part in the Paddle Steamer Parade with Kingswear Castle. This was a well loaded cruise with a large turnover of passengers at Southend.

The two paddlers first passed each other near the Chatham Bullnose.

Captain Colledge turned the larger paddler just down stream of Upnor Castle with assistance from the Rochester tug Nippashore.  

The traditional Parade took place on the return passage with Waverley steaming up the KC's port side and then the smaller paddler fell back before steaming up Waverley's port side.

An inquisitive visitor at Southend - is it a turnstone?

The second call at Southend on Sunday turned out to be the last there for 2005 as disaster struck the Pier overnight. A fire broke out in the Jolly Fisherman pub and this spread shorewards fanned by the southerly breeze. The landing stage and Lifeboat Station appear to be untouched but pier was effectively breached by the fire. This so limited the numbers on board the planned Dover trip that it was uneconomic to berth at the Kent port, with its commercial charges. An alternative cruise was offered from Tilbury only, passing the Pier to view the damage and then cruising the Medway as far as Upnor before terminating at Whitstable, with coaches home. After taking bunkers, Waverley sailed away from the Thames on passage to the Bristol Channel.

Moonrise over Northfleet Cement Works

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