Thames Report 2 (Part 3)
Report by Martin Longhurst
Pictures by Jean McGowan
Friday's cruise (10 October 2003) took the paddler from Tilbury to Southend, Clacton and Harwich for a short cruise on the River Stour (not the Kent one - this wording is to keep Jeremy Gold happy!), turning off Parkestone Quay. Return to Clacton was by steamer, but Tilbury and Southend passengers were coached home from Harwich, where the Waverley spent the night alongside Halfpenny Pier.
The following day saw an up-river run to Tower Pier from Harwich, Clacton and
Tilbury and this arrived at London with 680 on board. A high speed run was made
from Clacton to Tilbury in 2 hours 52 minutes, with over 17 knots being achieved
from the South Whittaker Buoy to the Ovens Buoy. This was to gain time to allow
a crane to attend the vessel to replace a bulb in her mainmast lights.
Unfortunately the machine had insufficient reach and the attempt was
unsuccessful. All except the Tilbury passengers returned by coach.
Sunday's cruise started at Southend for Tilbury and a non-landing cruise to the
Upper Pool of London. This proved terrifically popular with 683 on board out of
Southend and a full Class V complement (Mode 2) of 840 from Tilbury, with some
unbooked passengers being turned away. There was an easterly wind blowing which
made it warm on deck for the up-river leg. The steamer passed through Tower
Bridge at 12.30 and immediately tug Revenge swung her to starboard so the pair
could stem the flooding tide for 30 minutes until the second lift signalled
Waverley's departure downstream.
After dropping off her passengers at Tilbury and Southend, the paddler headed upstream while extensive preparations went ahead for a special cruise to celebrate the Ruby Wedding Anniversary of long standing supporters Prunella Scales and Timothy West. The ship's dramatic arrival through Tower Bridge was greeted by cheers from their guests assembled on Tower Pier. About 400 joined the ship for a non-landing cruise turning near the QE2 (M25) Bridge. A sumptuous finger buffet had been prepared by Craig Peacock and his staff. The happy couple were presented with a celebratory cake provided by the Officers and Crews of the Waverley and Balmoral and Prunella with a bouquet of ruby amaryllis blooms.
Guests included Sir Ian McKellen, Jim McFadzean, Ronnie Barker, Douglas McGowan, Maggie Steed, Jean McGowan and Neil Kinnock. The celebs on board that Jean noted were: Simon Callow, Andrew Sachs ("Manuel" - Fawlty Towers), Anna Carteret ("Juliet Bravo"), Kenneth Baker MP (Cabinet Minister in "Maggie's Government), Richard Wilson ("Victor Meldrew"), Samantha Bond (in the last James Bond film), Isla Blair, David Rintoul (Dr Finlay), Joan Bakewell, Alan Rickman & Sam West. Plus 450 others!
The final day of the Thames season was planned to be a single sailing from Tilbury, Southend and Whitstable to Dover (instead of Folkestone). Unfortunately, as in other recent years, the weather intervened and the steamer was unable to proceed beyond Whitstable in passenger service. After taking bunkers and water, changing the bulbs in the navigation lights (using a larger crane) and fitting her storm boards, Waverley headed for Avonmouth as the easterly wind strengthened.
Regrettably my pictures of this period were lost due to an IT failure.