Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (BobB) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:07:24 GMT

I have posted some information about the Windsor Castle,which I think fell out of the system. I have been told she was bought by a South American Doctor and renovated. I have been talking to a Gentleman who has spent the last 48 years helping to run The Windsor Sea Cadets,who used the boat as their base for some years. He has a magazine article about the boat and it's renovation,with photos. He has said he will bring it along for me to copy. I will provide more information soon after. BobB.

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:48:36 GMT

Ben, I try every week, sometimes twice, and even had a 'go' on the Euro millions, but, as per usual, NOTHING...! I shall carry on though!

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:41:08 GMT

Hi Pat

To compare the photo of her now is heart breaking for me to look at. Its so sad to see an elegant boat left to rott like that.

To be honest time i getting on and im worried she will be scrapped in the next month or so. I have a trust backing me but they wont do anything before a group or someone comes forward to say they will take her on once she is restored and operate her etc. I am working on it, i have somebody in mind who operates passenger boats on the...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:28:28 GMT

Hi Ben, wow, what a contrast in the sleek, elegant, beautiful craft seen in the photograph of King when your Father took her over......it's almost painful to look at her now. Do you really think you can gather enough money to bring her back to the high specifications required? It seems such a tremendous task to me, but you must know whether or not you are in there with a fighting chance. I suppose the fact that she's 'teak-on-oak' adds to the difficulty of your getting her...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:18:28 GMT

Hello Pat

passenger boats have to get a license from the MCA each year. The MCA have the boat drydocked each year,taken out of the water and checked over ,a bit like a car M.O.T .

If a boat is left on the bank, or laid up out of service,then this expires and they have to reapply for a new one.

If a boat is out of use, the owner useally puts it up for sale and wants to earn a bit of money. Sadly some owners get so desprate they do anything for the money, even...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:43:33 GMT

Hi benm, can you please tell me why so many boats are left on a riverbank 'somewhere' to decay and rot? Is it mostly financial or perhaps is it that the owners go on to buy a more up-to-date version? It's sad to see pictures of once-beautiful boats just rotting away. When does an owner decide 'enough is enough' and then take steps to put the boat out-of-action mooring it somewhere or even having it pulled up onto a riverbank? Are parts of the engine, say, and...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:39:30 GMT

Thanks pat, i will have a look.

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:34:06 GMT

for benm

I asked Google for 'Photos of Steamboats on River Thames' and clicked on 'Jim Shead, Waterways Photographer and Writer'. I took a quick look and there's lots on there. It might be of some interest to you. I've just read that he pronounces his surname 'Shed', there's a little ditty he's written to clear this up...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:08:37 GMT

We were visiting relatives in Albert Street one Sunday years ago, and someone, as usual, suggested a walk 'down by the river', so off we went. When reaching the Promenade, we saw a couple of men, dressed in wet-suits. They kept vanishing beneath the surface of the river, right next to the promenade, and re-surfacing with - BEER GLASSES!!!
They told us they originally thought they might find some interesting pieces of Windsorian memorabilia, but every time they searched the...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:47:05 GMT

Thamesweb's link to The Promenade at Windsor' is well-worth a visit. Very informative and nostalgic too, with b&w views of the promenade going back over so many years. The Promenade is recognisable even from the earliest photographs. It's a pity the concrete lamps with their swirly shades have gone, but, the area around The Alexandra Gardens is still a great attraction and provides locals and visitors alike with somewhere to stroll at any time of the year.

Where...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:31:40 GMT

Hello Pat

I dont know the date myself and as you know the area much better than i do,i take your word for it. It does look that sort of era from the look of the Windsor Castle too. She looks quite modern but not the modern we have seen in other photos with boxed in wheelhouse etc.

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:06:45 GMT

The clues are in the covered stalls on the promenade, the height of the trees and how far apart they are.

Tourist photo from 1926 of the promenade featuring 'New Windsor Castle' moored up

In the mid 1930s the promenade was altered to what we know today from the hedges, tiered paths...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:11:19 GMT

Maybe Summer, 1953-ish? It's a lovely picture of 'her', whatever the date. My Husband says 1947-50. Do you actually know, or are you testing us benm?

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:18:08 GMT

Can anyone have a guess at the rough date of this picture? She still has her open wheelhouse.

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:09:21 GMT

Another good photo. Everyone's relaxed and enjoying themselves, I can see why this is 'perhaps' your favourite photo of Windsor Castle', benm.

Is the passenger, sitting in front of the lifebelt, opening a toffee perhaps, and is the chap in the white suit trying to attract the attention of the lady in front of him? Looking at the men in particular, they are mostly wearing suits with ties, making me wonder if this could be an 'office party trip'?

...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:05:34 GMT

Perhaps my favourite photo of Windsor Castle in her glory:

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:14:46 GMT

Very sad to see the state this vessel is in, but glad to know that someone is hoping to save her and return her to the water. Watching your video, I noticed, briefly, a pleasure boat passing in the background. How ironic, I wonder if her skipper realises that he's just passing a once-beautiful boat, built on Jacob's Island all those years ago.

Couldn't the owner of The New Windsor Castle apply for help from The National Lottery, or maybe Windsor and Maidenhead Councils...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:51:54 GMT

New Windsor Castle Video June 08

I went over to Sunbury today and was fortunate to meet the owner of the New Windsor Castle who allowed me to go aboard and take a few pictures. He is keen to see the former steamer from 1923 survive in some shape or other, but it will take money and a lot of time.

We wish him luck and invite interested parties to email editor [at]...

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:47:46 GMT

We have been sent the above 1980s picture of Empress of India and Windsor Castle by riverthames.co.nr. Our thanks to Ben. He reports that as of June 08 Windsor Castle remains at Sunbury.

Re: Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 06:00:51 GMT
One of the rumours - urban myths - that surround the 'New Windsor Castle' is that her master, Harry Lansley, on occasion would mis-time his approach to the promenade and be swept downstream onto Windsor Bridge.

I can state categorically now that such an event never happened!!! Harry Lansley was a very competent skipper for around 40 years, and there are no reports of any such mishaps!!!

Video - Help needed to save this 'Varnished Elegance'

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 01:59:06 GMT

Some of the details in this post are no longer relevant but are retained for the record. The latest news is included at the end of this thread.

As of June 2005, the New Windsor Castle is lying at Sunbury at Turks old boat yard which will shortly be redeveloped. The current owner is anxious to see the Windsor Castle moved and it is certain that she will be...