Sailing bill (From Penarth Times)

Sailing bill

I HAVE just received a fascinating sailing bill from 1932, the details of which your readers might find interesting.

It"s a "trip" by Paddle Steamer Waverley (built in 1907 as PS Barry of the Barry Railway Steamers, but later acquired by P & A Campbell"s White Funnel Fleet and renamed Waverley (2) - not to be confused with the PS Waverley of 1947 which will be back at Penarth in the near future).

The marathon sailing was an annual event by a number of the fleet - this trip was on Thursday, April 28, 1932.

The vessel started out from Bristol (Hotwells) via Cardiff leaving Penarth at 1.55pm and proceeded via Ilfracombe to arrive at Brighton at "about" 5pm on the next day.

In addition, after a well-needed break (there was no overnight accommodation available on board) passengers could on the following Sunday proceed to Boulogne for the day!

Not a bad few days sailing by paddle steamer (weather and circumstances permitting) and here"s the best bit - the fare - 75 pence (15 shillings in those days).

If you wanted to come back for some reason, the return fare including rail, was £1.75.

Tickets were sold by, amongst others, Thomas Cook & Co.

More recently, Campbell"s paddle steamers still offered some long days out - such as a day trip trip to Milford Haven via Barry & Ilfracombe (with time ashore) and back from Penarth Pier (though back in the very early years their ships were fast enough to take you on a trip as far afield as Newquay, Cornwall and back in a day!).

Out of pure interest do any readers know the longest possible day trip from Penarth would have been (out and back in a day)?

I have heard St Ives, Cornwall, suggested, but surely...

Brian Keitch

Canon City

Colorado

USA

Via email