World of Ships – May 2018

PADDLE STEAMERS

Paddle Steamers I World of Ships I 17

vandalised hulk, with the exterior repainted

and made weatherproof, along with engine

restoration getting under way.

Steady progress was made, with Maid of the

Loch looking particularly smart with a black

lower hull and red funnel with a black top.

The Balloch Steam Slipway opposite Maid of

the Loch’s berth has been brought back into

service and has become a tourist attraction

in its own right; it can be visited when the

steamer is open for business.

The main boost came in August 2015, when

the Heritage Lottery Fund announced a £3.

million grant towards the estimated £5.

million total cost of restoring Maid of the Loch

to steam operation once more and meeting the

latest marine safety standards, with additional

facilities including a lift to enable access for all.

John Beveridge, Director and Founder of

the charity said: “All our volunteers, sponsors,

and supporters have been wonderful over the

years. Now, having the support of the HLF, we

will transform the ‘Maid’ from a static venue

to an historic icon for West Dumbarton and

Scotland. We can provide training, jobs, and

investment as Maid of the Loch makes the

‘Bonnie Banks’ come alive and give visitors

an experience of Loch Lomond – and

Scotland - they will never forget.”

The engagement of consultants and

marine experts began immediately with

all necessary surveys, reports and costings

ready for spring 2016 and in January 2017

the project passed the critical mid-term

review by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which

gave fresh impetus to fi nish raising the

£1.7 million which will unlock the HLF’s

contribution. The 50th anniversary of Maid

of the Loch’s launch at Balloch was marked

on 7 March 2018 with an announcement

that Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin had

accepted an ivitation to become the patron

of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company

and preservation society.

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