I WAS interested to read your article referring to the historic link between Cunard and the Clyde ("Queen Mary 2 visits Clyde for Cunard's 175th anniversary", The Herald, May 22).
It is worth remembering that one of the key figures in the creation of the company, which originally was known as the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company, was Robert Napier, the famous marine engineer and shipbuilder. Known as the Father of Clyde Shipbuilding, Napier's role is documented in James Napier's Life of Robert Napier of West Shandon, which was published in 1904.
In addition to transcripts of correspondence, and a copy of the original contract for the first Cunard steamers, dated March 18, 1839, the book has an illustration of Lancefield House, which was Napier's home and where Samuel Cunard met with him to arrange the contract. Unfortunately, the house was demolished in 1881, a fact recorded in The Bailie magazine, in March of that year.
George Fairfull-Smith,
342 Kilmarnock Road,
Glasgow.
IF there is room for surprise in the hereafter I am sure that tragedian and Scotland's best "worst" poet William Topaz McGonagall will be doing a wee jig at the news that the Forth Bridge built after the collapse in 1879 of his "beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay" is to be made a World Heritage Site (Forth Bridge to be made World Heritage Site", The Herald, May23).
"Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remembered for a very long time."
..."Had they been supported on each side with buttresses, At least many sensible men confesses, For the stronger we our houses do build, The less chance we have of being killed".
R Russell Smith,
96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.
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