It would be hard to imagine anyone better qualified to talk about Western Ferries’ 40-year history on the Clyde than John Newth, now the company’s longest-serving engineer. John also happens to be a prominent member of the CRSC, having been Review Editor for the past six years and President in the 2006-2007 session. On 13 March 2013 he brought a wonderfully light touch to his subject, “Western on the Clyde — a Ruby Anniversary”, demonstrating how a breed of ferries that were initially dismissed as of limited interest have a rich and vibrant story. That the Club’s own view of Western Ferries has moved with the times was demonstrated by the fact that around 100 members came to hear John speak — and absorb his fascinating sequence of illustrations, which gave a true insider’s view of the company’s development.
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SOUND OF ISLAY
Ardrossan Harbour, January 1972
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SOUND OF ISLAY
McInroy’s Point, March 1973
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A tale of ships rather than politics and finance, John’s talk began at the very beginning, with the launch of the Sound of Islay at Ferguson’s of Port Glasgow in 1968, and ended with the news that Western Ferries now carry more than half a million cars across the Clyde each year. Two new vessels, the Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay, will join the fleet in the summer of 2013.
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| SOUND OF SCARBA leaves Hunter’s Quay, August 1973 |
SOUND OF SANDA arrives at Hunter’s Quay, 1974 |
SOUND OF SHUNA at Hunter’s Quay, August 1973 |
We heard many little-known details about how the idea for the McInroy’s Point- Hunter’s Quay crossing took root, about the construction of terminals and the foreign origins of the early ferries, and the way they were adapted for service on the Clyde.
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| OLANDSSUND IV being converted in James Watt Dock, Greenock, April 1973 |
GEMEENTEPONT 23 undergoing conversion at Garvel, May 1995 |
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SOUND OF SHUNA discharges lorries from Portavadie at McInroy’s Point
while SOUND OF ISLAY lies off, 1975
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SOUND OF JURA
loads cement tankers for Ardyne,
March 1975
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HIGHLAND SEABIRD at Oban, summer 1977 |
HIGHLAND SEABIRD at Strome Ferry, winter 1978 |
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| SOUND OF SEIL first day in service, 1986 |
SOUND OF SANDA at McInroy’s Point, 1988 |
SOUND OF SLEAT arrives at McInroy’s Point, 1990 |
SOUND OF SCARBA on the crossing, 1990 |
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| SOUND OF SEIL being towed from the Clyde, July 1996 |
SOUNDs OF SANDA and SCALPAY in James Watt Dock, June 1996 |
SOUND OF SCARBA ready for launching, March 2001 |
SOUND OF SLEAT tows SOUND OF SHUNA to the buoy in the Holy Loch, Oct. 2003 |
It was astonishing to see how diverse their work had been in those early years, with charters to Ardyne, Ardrossan, Portavadie, Rothesay and Loch Long, as well as a cruise from Glasgow’s Garden Festival. The ultra-versatile Sound of Islay sailed as far afield as Shetland and Ireland — and, ultimately, to Newfoundland.
Five boats in service, Cowal Games, August 1995
By 1995 the company was able to field five ships on Cowal Games weekend, and John — ever the enthusiast as much as the seasoned professional — had a perfect illustration to prove it. When new berths were constructed on either side, the service continued without disruption.
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| New berth under construction at McInroy’s Point, March 2007 | New linkspan being lifted into place at Hunter’s Quay, May 2007 |
John’s pride in the company’s can-do attitude shone through, as did his ability to explain in layman terms the technicalities of daily operations, annual overhaul and hull construction (upside down!). One nugget that took many of his listeners by surprise: “a feature of all the company’s present fleet is that there is no need to drydock them every year, as the propulsion units can be removed while afloat.”
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| SOUNDs OF SHUNA and SCARBA meet at Renfrew, February 1996
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SOUND OF SCALPAY at Renfrew, February 1998 |
SOUND OF SANDA in Garvel Drydock, March 2004 |
SOUND OF SCARBA in Garvel Drydock, February 2010 |
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| Three ferries lie at Kilmun, June 2007 |
The whole fleet at Hunter’s Quay, June 2010 |
Updating the company logo, February 2012 |
SOUND OF SCARBA starts the day at Hunter’s Quay, March 2013 |
In his vote of thanks, Andy Anderson said we had not only heard much of interest about successive ships named Sound of Sanda, Sound of Seil and Sound of Sleat, but we had also heard the sound of John Newth — and how illuminating it had been.