I would like to set a few records straight if I may-my google alerts have been going mental recently with many people commenting on the PS Ryde and disagreement between ourselves and the PSRT over the sale of the engine console. I am a very firey redhead who for three years has spent every day working until the early hours trying to keep a pleasure steamer going for the general public. We are not rich, we have no disposable income and very little contingency for when things go wrong. Monarch's boiler required major repairs at the time of the sale and I can say categorically that if it were not for the sale of the Ryde's console we would not have been able to fulfil what was a very busy year for us.
I, personally, have the greatest respect for Mark Young who has not only offered moral support to us when we had the idea of bringing Monarch to Island; but has also saved our bacon at times when the boat regularly broke down in the early days. He is a passionate, positive and practical man who I am pleased to regard as a friend. Any person that either contributes to, or reads this forum, is entirely incorrect should they assert otherwise. The sale of Ryde's console was done with the full knowledge of the PSRT and the PSPS and we met with Mark prior to the sale for a pint and a chat about it!
I will not stand for any person to make comments on our behalf, nor I imagine would Mark. Those people who have done so by using their credentials to add artificial weight to their comments will receive a complaint from me via the organisations that they purport to represent.
I'm all up for a bit of debate, but when somebody who has the gumption to get up off their backside and do something is being slated-it's time to draw things to a close.
PS Monarch is a standalone vessel with a supportive community voluntary organisation supporting it. We will continue to attempt to entertain the public, improve the boat and allow those with passion and commitment the chance to work alongside us as volunteers.
In terms of my personal views-these are entirely that. I am not a member of this forum to advertise myself, simply to learn from those who have experience in the type of boat that I plod up and down on every day. Support the Ryde if you want, there is a fine engine hiding in that hull and I for one would love to see it move once again-but only if I can be taken around the Isle of Wight by it (I'm only jealous as we are always stupidly busy when Waverley does her trips down here, and I rarely get the chance to go for a ride)!
Let this be an end to all of this, and be warned-if I see ANY person attempting to represent ourselves or make comments on subjects that they do not understand here or on any other site-I will take action. The Monarch is my livelihood, it is not a hobby and we fight a daily battle to keep her steam powered and not take the easy option of slinging a diesel hydraulic system in so that we might one day get a decent wage packet home!! Therefore I must protect it.
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