March 2025

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Boiler lagging still dominates our ‘to do’ list. Andy must wish he had kept his hands in his pockets when the question ‘Who wants to take this on?’ was asked. This really is the most awkward of jobs due to the very restrictive confines in which to work and the difficulties in getting the materials down to their required positions. That said, we are now on the final lap, as all the lagging material in now in place between the crinolines and progress is being made with the cutting and fitting of the metal cladding sections that protect the lagging material itself. Valves that had been removed as part of our rolling maintenance program have been overhauled, and the valve faces lapped-in. The blow-down and scum valves have now been bolted back onto the boiler and pipework, and after some difficulties the shut-off valves to the water gauge frame are also back in-situ. This task is made all the more difficult as the upper valve is accessed via a sliding hatch in the boiler casing. Whilst it cannot be classed as ‘difficult’ an annual job that nobody particularly enjoys is the cleaning out of the Engine Room bilge. Grovelling on your knees armed with an old mop and a quantity of dubious rags to swab below the crankshaft is not everyones idea of great fun, but it has to be done. Possibly at the other end of the enjoyment spectrum is the great results from Matthew’s crusade to repaint the Engine Room. This really is a job to be done when there is no-one else on board who wants tools or passage through the Engine Room, but the results are worth the effort. Above decks, the repaired starboard side steering sheeve has received its coat of paint as, after de-rusting, as has the support frame for the domestic fresh water tank. The galvanised tank itself has been thoroughly cleaned, a new cover for the filler fashioned and fitted and the exterior cleaned and repainted before it was returned to its support frame. On 15th March several members of the crew were delighted to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain to gratefully accept the George Watkin Award for the continued preservation and operation of machinery of industrial archaeological importance. This was presented to us by SBA President The Rt Hon Lord Forsyth of Drumlean along with the generous donation that accompanied the award. Our Treasurer and Director Jonathan Bregazzi then delivered an informative presentation on the history, preservation and continued operation of the vessel which was well received. Enquiries are still on-going to secure drydocking with hopefully more news in the near future.

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