August 2024

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Kerne spent the month on display in Canning Dock berthed alongside the Pumphouse Pub, thereby ensuring a large public audience was able to view the vessel whilst enjoying a beer on the quayside. Despite the obvious attraction of our location, the volunteer crew were not distracted from the ‘Outstanding Jobs’ list and continued with the boiler re-lagging. Whilst only partially completed, the benefits became obvious during our period in steam for the boiler inspection, and our short cruise to Canning. In the absence of lagging, the boiler pressure drops away markedly once firing ceases, but with lagging the day following sees pressure still registering. Also it is now possible to leisurely lean against the boiler casing for long periods without getting you backside cooked! Better weather also allowed deck painting to continue and a start was made in the long overdue repainting of the Engine Room. Not all news is good however as after twelve months of successful and trouble-free operation of our new wind turbine 24volt charging system, a fault has occurred forcing us to run our 240volt auxiliary generator to top up our battery banks. After various tests aboard we have been unable to identify the cause of the fault, although we believe this may be down to the regulator. This has been returned to the manufactures who are to test the equipment and report back. Our next planned steaming was set for the beginning of September for a nostalgic trip back to Vittoria Wharf in Birkenhead where we were berthed for several years in the 1970’s. Accordingly, fires were lit on Friday 30th August with a view to steaming out of Canning on the following Monday for our short stay across the water. In August last year we reported the sad loss of George Coles, our former Charman and long-time Kerne supporter. A steam man through and through his wish was that his last journey should be aboard the Paddle Steamer Waverley, and that his ashes should be laid to rest in the Kyles of Bute. In order to fulfil his wish, on the anniversary of his passing, a group of Kerne supporters, together with representatives of the Lancashire Traction Engine Club and the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society gathered aboard Waverley and after a few words Geoge’s ashes were duly committed to the deep, followed by a salute of the ships whistle. The assembled then proceeded to the Jeanie Deans Bar where George posthumously carried out his final act – a round of drinks for all with which we toasted the loss of a great friend.

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