THE immediate future of the Waverley, the world's last sea-going paddle steamer, appears to have been secured following a fundraising appeal to ensure it can sail "doon the watter" for another season.
Waverley Excursions, the charity behind the iconic Clyde-built vessel, said it was confident it could raise enough money to see the steamer through an expensive refit over winter, with attention now focusing on a funding plan to secure its long-term viability.
There had been uncertainty over whether the Waverley would make any sailings beyond this Sunday, when it is due to depart from Glasgow for the last cruise of the season.
Though immensely popular with generations of Clydesiders and boating enthusiasts around the UK, the 65-year-old Waverley has been hit by soaring fuel costs and a series of inclement summers which have dented passenger numbers. Managers had set a target of raising £350,000 by the end of the year but said the amount had increased as sailings were cancelled due to poor weather.
Graeme Hogg, chairman of Waverley Excursions, said he had been “bowled over” by donations from individuals keen to ensure the boat’s survival.
“We were seriously concerned about surviving beyond the end of this season but we’re now confident we can keep going. We’re not quite out of the woods in that we still need to raise money between now and winter to pay for major items like the maintenance refit,” he said.
Among the contributions was a donation of £100 made by a widow who raised the money by selling her husband’s car after he died, the charity said.
The appeal has been successful in obtaining support from local authorities, with North Ayrshire Council this week following Inverclyde Council by agreeing to provide £15,000.
Funding appeals have been made to more than 40 councils around the UK where the Waverley sails and it is hoped others will contribute.
Doubts over the Waverley’s future go back to 1973 when it was bought for £1 by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society from its then owner Caledonian MacBrayne.
It has since survived largely on slender profits made from fare-paying passengers and occasional public funding appeals but has been hit hard by rising costs which have left it paying £500 an hour for fuel.
Waverley Excursions has set up a development board chaired by Charlie Gordon, the former Glasgow Council leader and MSP, to try to secure greater support from public funds.
The board also includes Sir William McAlpine – the former director of construction company Sir Robert McAlpine, who is famed for saving the Flying Scotsman from the scrapyard by purchasing the famous locomotive in 1973 – and Jim Pettigrew, one of Scotland’s most successful businessmen and non-executive director of a number of companies including Edinburgh Investment Trust.
At the moment the only long-term public funding comes from Glasgow City Council, which this year increased its annual grant of £26,000 to £50,000.
The Waverley’s fundraising appeal has also been aided by Anthony McReavy, who was development director for the Riverside Museum appeal and project director for the Kelvingrone Museum refurbishment, and is now acting as a development advisor to the charity.
He said the benefits to local economies where the Waverley berthed were worth £5 million – a fact recognised by councils and MSPs.
A motion in the Scottish Parliament expressing support for the Waverley has garnered cross-party backing and a letter-writing campaign has brought the subject to the attention of Government ministers.
Members of the Welsh Assembly have called for a more permanent funding solution to be put in place.
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