CELEBRATIONS will take place this weekend marking the 65th anniversary of the maiden voyage of what is now the UK’s last paddle steamship.

Loch Lomond’s Maid of the Loch sailed from its Balloch base for the first time on May 25, 1953, a week before the queen’s coronation, taking 1000 passengers to Balmaha, Rowardennan, Tarbet, Inversnaid and Ardlui.

For 28 years, the Maid was known as the “heart” of Loch Lomond, carrying millions of visitors around the “bonnie banks”.

Now she is moored at Balloch Pier as a static tourist attraction, following her decommissioning in 1981, and still receives thousands of visitors each year.

Tomorrow and on Sunday she will welcome guests new and old on board for a 1950s-themed celebration. Visitors will include Hamish Teaz, 78, who witnessed the maiden sailing. He is pictured with six-month-old Aoibhe Chow, part of a new generation who will enjoy the ship once sailing again.

Teaz said: “I remember that day as if it was yesterday. We couldn’t get a ticket for the maiden voyage but I will never forget the sight of seeing the Maid sailing by.

“Sixty-five years on I’m now a volunteer on the Maid, helping to restore her, giving tours to visitors and generally assisting in any way I can. It’s a real honour to be here to mark the anniversary.”

The Maid’s future looks bright thanks to a restoration programme led by local charity the Loch Lomond Steamship Company (LLSC). The group of dedicated volunteers has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years to restore the ship back to its former glory, and a recent £950,000 grant from the Scottish Government to support the restoration has taken the project significantly closer to its £5.5m target.

LLSC chairman John Beveridge said: “The Maid of the Loch is a huge part of our cultural heritage, not just for Loch Lomond but for Scotland as a whole. People from all over the world have shared the joy of sailing on this special ship, and we are thrilled to celebrate her 65th maiden voyage this weekend.

“It’s taken more than 20 years, but we are now within reach of gaining the full amount required to get the Maid refurbished and sailing on Loch Lomond once again. The opportunities it will offer in terms of creating jobs and providing economic growth to the area is second to none, and we are very excited about this next chapter in her journey.”

This weekend’s celebrations will take place from 12noon until 5pm both days. There will be original rock ‘n’ rollers, vintage cars and performances from Alexandria Mandolin Band and HMS Neptune Volunteer Band. A free 1958 Bristol Lodekka double decker shuttle bus will run from Balloch station.