August 2023

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As what was laughingly referred to as ‘Summer’ drew to a close, it was time to prepare the vessel for a return to Sandon Dock on favourable tides. Our joyful demeanour was short-lived as we received the news that our long-standing member George Coles had passed away at his home on Sunday 7 August. For many years Chairman of both North Western Steam Ship and The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society, George had a lifelong interest in steam, he supported and volunteered aboard Kerne for many years. He bought the Clayton & Shuttleworth Traction Engine No 46059 in 1968 and was an avid supporter of several steam orientated organizations. Well known throughout the preservation movement, he will be sadly missed. After spending several months in Canning adjacent to the Pumphouse pub, the wind direction made sure that any discarded rubbish, plastic glasses and other detritus ended up on our decks, so with several black bin bags stowed on deck, we prepared to depart. Fires were lit on 18th August for our departure on Monday 21st August. As we were raising steam we were honoured to welcome aboard the family on Ron Hayes, who was Kerne last commercial skipper in the years up to 1971 when Kerne was retired and replaced by the ex-TID tug Trover. This motorised replacement was a shadow of Kerne’s capabilities, but that is another story! Come the Monday, and with favourable conditions, and a full head of steam the pedestrian bridge was swung and with a load blast on Kerne’s organ pipe whistle we ventured out into the Mersey. As operation of the gate from Canning is tide dependant, we had several hours to kill whilst awaiting our scheduled lock-in at Langton, so we had a pleasant sail up and down the channel towards Eastham. However, as our lock-in time approached we had to venture a little further out into the mouth of the river and encroached into an area of water whipped up by a Westerly Force 7, so we took on a bit of a roll!! Soon the bags of rubbish were washing round the after deck and those who were not nibble on their feet ended up with wet boots. Quite fun on deck but it does make life difficult for the fireman down below. The writer’s preferred method to combat the conditions is to open both furnace doors, load up your shovel with coal, and as you get thrown across the stokehold throw the coal through whichever open furnace door you are passing!! Having finally locked in at Langton accompanied by the Sea Cadets Training Ship Jack Petchey, a bunker barge, a tug and a Wind Farm Support Vessel we sailed through and moored up in Sandon in good time. One or two small outstanding jobs have now been carried out, the Liverpool Lighterage colours restored to the funnel as we prepare for our next outing – a member’s sailing into the Manchester Ship Canal on the 9th and 10th September.

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