An emotional appeal has been issued to maintain Helensburgh’s historic link with the Waverley, the world’s only sea-going paddle steamer.
MSP Jackie Baillie told a public meeting in Helensburgh – reported in a separate story here – that the community had to ‘move with a degree of swiftness’ if the Waverley was to call at Helensburgh pier next year.
The pier was closed to marine traffic on safety grounds last month by Argyll and Bute Council.
And yesterday Ian Quinn, an author and branch member of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society who is known as ‘the voice of the Waverley’ after providing onboard commentary for many years, told the meeting that it was ‘of vital importance to get the pierhead open again’.
Helensburgh was the only pier served by the Waverley on the north bank of the Clyde with access to a railway connection from east to west, he said.
“It is a vital ingredient to tourism that the Waverley is able to use this pier,” he said
“Unless you have got the pier-head open for business it will not happen
“The local community benefits from the Waverley in a whole host of ways, most of them not seen.
“There is no more special vision than the Waverley – to see a paddle steamer coming in and out of a pier on the Clyde is a very special experience.”
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