Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: Paulrjordan on June 14, 2005, 09:04:59 PM
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Hi there all Paddleducks.
Forgive my silence since I returned from the UK ten days ago..but
with a new job and a zillion emails to reply to..things got a little
backed up. I did have an excellent trip and managed to talk on the
phone to a number of "internet chums" including our Paddleduck Ady
Selway who also provided me with some good information on "Medway
Queen" (more about her during the week). I spent a great evening with
Tom Lee who runs the Paddlesteamer Picture Gallery which is a MUST
visit reference resource for British Excusrsion paddlewheelers and can
be found at
http://freespace.virgin.net/tom.lee/contents.htm
Was a guest at a World Ship Society Meeting (great bunch of people)
and also visited the Newhaven Maritime Museum who were incredibly
helpful over the lovely cross channel LB & SCR paddlers I am
researching. My flight to the UK was grounded for 28 hours in Calgary
which gave me time to completely devour the "Great Iron Ship" which is
all about that wonderful ICON of paddlers the "Great Eastern". I also
took over a copy of "British Steam Tugs" the P.N Thomas book which
David (Allinson) told us all about (and which has drawings of his
lovely paddle tug "Scotia" inside).
I also visited three Sussex paddlewheeler modelers including John
Watts of Hove who is a verey sprightly 83 year old gent who builds the
most exquisite live steam engines and has a beautiful 48" live steam
"Chieftain" side wheel tug.
My two regrets are that I didnt manage to get aboard "Waverley" (the
flight delays forced us to cancel a scheduled trip aboard her)...and I
didn't get to see "Medway queen" (my 85 year old Dad was nervous of
reported floods in the area!!!!). However, thanks to Ady, I received
plans and lots of useful info on Medway queen" and I will definitely
visit her on the next trip in the Spring. I also climbed all over the
new Shoreham Lifeboat a beautiful "Tyne Class" and the RNLI folks were
very kind and informative.
OH I nearly forgot....Ady Selway introduced me to BOW RUDDERS..
something I had no idea existed on the British paddlers...more about
these fascinating features later.
I'll do my best to catch up with all your postings and try to respond
where appropriate. Anyway here a a couple of updates.
1) New Paddleducks co-moderator.
Eddy Matthews <edward.matthews@ntlworld.com> in the UK is now
co-moderator of Paddleducks to help steer things along, specially if
my new job keeps me away rather more than I would want.
Eddy has just opened up his new R/C Hovercraft email forum on Yahoo
groups which I will "baby sit" for him during any absences.
2) I have registered "Paddleducks.com" for 3 years just to secure the
domain name while it was still available...and in preparation for our
International Paddleducks Website which I am determined to start in
2002.
I'd like to welcome ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS who have joined during the
past month or so..Paddleducks is now up to 85 members..so PLEASE take
a minute and tell us what you're doing and if you have any paddler
projects or research on the go....no matter how trivial..it's always
good to hear from the 'lurkers". Even if you're not currently
building a paddler, we're always interested to hear of any other model
or ship projects you have underway.
Anyhow...it's good to be back...and please forgive me if I havnt yet
responded to your personal email..which I will do this week..although
I caught up on a lot last week.
PLEASE REMEMBER NOVEMBER 11TH..IT'S REMEMBERANCE DAY..."LEST WE
FORGET" and this is especially poignant for me at this time, as I am
re-reading "The Cruel Sea" , the story of a North Atlantic "Flower
Class" Corvette during WW2. Incredible exploits..incredible bravery.
I also think it appropriate at this time to remember PS "Medway Queen"
who rescued 7,000 soldiers and the many other British sidewheelers
who plucked thousands of soldiers from the shores of Dunkirk in WW2.
Have a great weekend and don't hesitate to email me if you have any
concerns or difficulties with Paddleducks.
PJ
Paddleducks Moderator