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Waverley on the Thames
Dateline 8 October 2000
Waverley's week started quietly off service at Tilbury on Monday. Tuesday saw a repeat of the previous Monday's sail to land passengers from Southend and Tilbury at The Dome, with a non-landing trip from Tower Pier while their visit to The Dome took place. These sailings were lightly loaded.
Wednesday's trip took the paddler from Southend to Clacton, Walton and Ipswich. Although there was a little difficulty berthing at Walton Pier, it was decided that the later call could still take place as the tide would be higher. However, this proved to be a false hope as, on the return call on the afternoon cruise from Ipswich, a small dent was made in the plating of the starboard sponson. In the evening a special trip was laid on from Ipswich for workers from George Prior's yard at Great Yarmouth.
The trip from Ipswich to London on Thursday was well patronised with over 600 on board. For the ninth time, the Royal Hospital School, now at Holbrook on the Essex Stour (but formerly at the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich) had a party of pupils on this trip. Visibility was so good that the chimnies of Richborough Power Station on the Kent Stour could be seen after the Clacton pick-up. Walton passengers were coached to Clacton.
Friday gave the citizens of Southend and Tilbury two opportunities to sail to London, during the day and in the evening, the latter with a coach return. Unfortunately they did not take their chance in big numbers.
On Saturday, the weather broke and rain fell steadily until about 1630 hrs. Nevertheless, numbers on board were good from Tower Pier to Tilbury, Southend and Clacton. We spent the outward jouney in the Caledonia Tea Room in the warm and dry and also enjoyed the passing vista of the river bank. The outward passage through the Swin Channel, near Clacton, was made at Dead Slow Ahead, as it was neap low water. This Channel is rarely used by commercial traffic and, as it lies within the Thames Pilotage Area, trainee pilots often take passage on the steamer to learn the waters. Today, two made the return journey from Tilbury. Leaving Clacton, we picked up some one-way passengers, as we did from Southend and Tilbury. Passing through Tower Pier, the jazz band came on deck and played us into Tower Pier.
Bright, sunny weather returned on Sunday, Paddle Steamer Parade day. Over 540 boarded at Tower Pier, and good numbers joined at Tilbury and Southend, although many Londoners chose to spend the afternoon at the Essex resort. On the way to the Medway, we were told that we would be unable to proceed all the way to Chatham as there was no tug available following vandalism. Alternative arrangements were quickly made, and Waverley steamed to the Red Sands Fort before entering the Medway. This meant that we could meet the Kingswear Castle at the mouth of Damhead Creek, rather further downstream than in previous years.
KC approaching from the south just after Waverley had turned
She crossed Waverley's stern and steamed up Waverley's port side
She gradually drew past her larger sister
Then back across the stern ...
... to forge past on Waverley's starboard side. The green name pennant is from Cozen's P.S. Consul.
Waverley offered an evening cruise from Southend (coach return) and Tilbury to Tower Pier. The highlight was her last departure from London in 2000.
The flood tide was nearly spent and it was possible for the tug Revenge - her stern light is just visible passing behind Waverley's bow - to turn the paddler between the Pier and the Bridge.
A plume of steam rises in front of the for'ard funnel as the traditional three long blasts are sounded on the whistle to mark the last departure of the season.
Purser Jim MacFadzean wished all on Tower Bridge a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - "We'll see you all again in 2001!"