Balmoral DVD

Nigel Heath charts the history of The Balmoral, sails with her on her 60th anniversary - and meets the volunteers who keep her afloat

Now laid up for the winter at Wapping Wharf in the Floating Harbour, the m.v. Balmoral is one of the last remaining links between today and more leisurely days, when a day-out on the Bristol Channel was a treat relished by thousands of Bristolians.

When she was launched as an Isle of Wight ferry back in 1949, Campbell’s famous White Funnel Fleet was still carrying many hundreds of day trippers from Bristol, Clevedon and Penarth to other harbours and piers all around the Bristol Channel.

After being acquired by Campbell’s the Balmoral spent the Seventies providing a pleasure service in the Channel.

But passenger numbers were falling and by 1981 the company had to finally admit there were simply not enough people to keep her screws turning.

When the company ceased trading it ended a White Funnel tradition dating back to the 1890s.

Balmoral was then laid up in Avonmouth for two years, her future uncertain, before being sold to a Scottish pub-owning company for use as a floating restaurant.

But as former Evening Post shipping reporter Nigel Heath explains in a new DVD – made mostly during the last, 60th anniversary sailing to Ilfracombe – this was not the end, but a new beginning.

But this was a story Nigel never really intended to tell – because it all came about quite by accident.

“ I had originally planned to make an earlier sailing but when that was cancelled by rough weather the only alternative was the last cruise of the year to Ilfracombe,” he told Bristol Times.

“Then, the day before the sailing, I ran into filmmaker John Dakin on an early morning walk and he jumped at the chance of making the trip too, along with his camera.

“John runs Congresbury based Aungenblick Productions.

“Luckily an anniversary cake cutting and civic reception due to be held when the Balmoral docked at Ilfracombe had been postponed from earlier in the year.

“And, as luck would further have it, the weather for this final anniversary cruise from the Cumberland Basin to Clevedon, Penarth and Ilfracombe was perfect for filming.”

When the two boarded at Clevedon Pier the plan had simply been to interview the crew members and volunteers for Nigel’s own website (lifestoriesandmemories.co.uk)

But steaming home from Ilfracombe they suddenly realised they probably had enough interviews and film to form the basis of an anniversary documentary, part of the proceeds of which could be used help keep Balmoral afloat.

“Then Nigel Coombes from Portishead, a vice president of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, arranged for us to interview the volunteers after the ship had returned to her winter quarters” explained Nigel.

These enthusiasts, from all walks of life, who list mechanical and electrical engineering among their many skills, spend two days a week during the winter months refitting Balmoral in preparation for the next season.

One task last winter, under the direction of former Bristol Channel pilot Robins Wall from Pill, was to take down and shorten the ship’s twin masts to make it easier for her to sail to Chepstow and under the Wye Bridge.

On another occasion, thanks to Bristol volunteer Ron Simms, they acquired and modified old minesweeper derricks to make them suitable for Balmoral’s life boats.

Other hands-on tasks include re-varnishing seating, which has been one of Nigel Coombes’ jobs, and the taking down and cleaning of all the curtains, a role which has traditionally been undertaken by lady stalwarts from South Wales.

Ian McMillan, Director of Operations for Waverley Excursions, who run the vessel, said that without volunteers from both sides of the Bristol Channel it would be difficult to keep the ship sailing.

MV Balmoral Celebrating 60 Glories Years, price £9.95 is available – from December 14 – from Bristol’s Waterstone’s, the Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster, from Seeley’s bookshop in Hill Road, Clevedon and Congresbury post office.