MORE than 300 people boarded the paddle steamer Waverley yesterday to mark the 70th anniversary of its maiden voyage.
The vessel sailed for the first time from the River Clyde near Helensburgh in June 1947.
Now the last sea-going craft of its kind, it welcomes around 130,000 passengers a year and was given a send-off by a piper yesterday as it marked seven decades of service.
Those taking part included two men who had been on board as children for the maiden voyage.
On the enduring popularity of the Clyde-built ship, which is owned by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, Captain Ross Cochrane said: “Waverley’s attraction lies in a mix of things – the heritage, history, social history, maritime history, engineering history... and the scenery.
“But I think, more than anything, it’s just a great day out.”
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