Maid chairman wants steamer sailing again

Andrew Gibson • Published 9 Feb 2010 12:00

THE new chairman employed to steer the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer towards a new era of sailing says he is excited by the challenge.

Phil Preston is hoping to put his in-depth knowledge of passenger ferry services to good use at the Loch Lomond Steamship Company (LLSC).

Phil, 53, who is the managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne, took over the role from long-serving Colin Paterson, who stepped down because of poor health.

Cardross man Phil, whose last "direct experience" with the steamer was nearly 30 years ago, spoke to the Reporter about his new voluntary role and his hopes for the Maid.

He said: "I sailed on the Maid in 1973.

"After my school class finished our Highers we went for a day out and climbed Ben Lomond and then sailed back to Balloch on the Maid.

"That was my last direct experience with her.

"Then recently I was approached by a director and his colleagues and asked if I wanted to take it up - it is an exciting challenge.

"If I can help the project along I'm happy to be involved and I'm looking forward to it.

"The board has a business plan and it has an objective to get the ship sailing again and at the moment we are looking to do that and put together a sensible and practical plan to get her sailing as early as possible."

The Maid has not sailed on the loch for almost 30 years.

However, thanks to a hard-working and determined team of volunteers, as well as lottery funding, it has been given an incredible make-over in recent years.

Funding must now be raised to buy a new boiler and other mechanical requirements, as well as bring the steamer up to safety standards.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 09 Feb 10

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