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A newspaper cutting that helped to start the PSPS Medway Queen withdrawn during the early days of the PSPS Alumchine - the steamer that the PSPS tried to acquire during its early years PSPS members at Margate in 1964 Charter of the Consul by the PSPS in 1961 PSPS Blackheath Model Rally in 1962 The PSPS charter of Princess Elizabeth to Torquay in 1965 A typical PSPS 'Nutter'
Committee members admiring a model paddle steamer in 1964 Letter from the PSPS patron - Sir John Betjeman Charter of the Bristol Queen to Tenby by the PSPS in 1967 Kingswear castle laid up on the River dart in Devon prior to purchase by the PSPS for £600 Kingswear Castle undergoing restoration at medway Bridge Marina during the 1970s Consul in the Upper Pool of London in 1963 Waverley on a PSPS charter during the early 1970s Waverley is sold to the PSPS for £1!
watch film of Waverley's first visit to London in 1978 The four PSPS members that travelled south with Waverley in 1978 Menu for the 25th Birthday dinner in 1984 Bernard Cox hands the plaque from the Freshwater to PSPS founder Alan Robinson at the Savoy Hotel in 1980 Menu from the 21st Birthday Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in 1980 Douglas McGowan, Johnathan Cohen and Pat Bushell at the Savoy in 1980 Balmoral departing from Great Yarmouth in 2003 Waverley and Kingswear Castle during the 'Grand Parade of Steam' in 1985

Paddle Steamers That Were Lost
Consul in the Upper Pool of London in 1963
Handbill Consul's cruises from Southend during her time on the Thames

Consul in the Upper Pool of London, 1963

One of the saddest events witnessed during the 1960s was the withdrawal and scrapping of the Consul. She had been built in 1896 and was operated for many years by Cosens of Weymouth. The PSPS noted and tried to assist the preservation of this fine steamer in its early years. After being withdrawn from service in 1963, she ran a service for a few weeks out of south coast resorts as well as on the River Thames as seen here on 22 September 1963. She spent a further period on the South coast before becoming an accommodation vessel on the River Dart. Sadly, she finally arrived at the breakers at Southampton in October 1968.

The story of the Consul is pretty typical of the difficulties that faced the PSPS during the 1960s when steamers sometimes found a new but unsuccessful and short-lived new life only to end up at breakers. Luckily, the telegraphs, name pennant and lifebelt of the Consul were saved by the PSPS.


 

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