The initial meeting that looked towards forming a paddle steamer society was held on 30 October 1959. Suggestions at this meeting included purchasing a paddle steamer and operating it as well as buying shares in operating companies. Captain L.G.A. Thomas proposed that there should be two classes of membership; full and associate.

At the Southampton meeting, Alan Robinson was elected as the first Chairman of the Society with Captain Thomas as Vice Chairman, Tony McGinnity as Secretary and Bernard Cox as Assistant Secretary. Tony McGinnity noted that there were fifteen persons present at the meeting but another forty has shown an interest in the Society so he felt that it had a real future.