The Kintyre Forum

Didn't quite know where to put this so hope this is okay.
I had a really surreal conversation today in Marks & Spencers. I started chatting to the woman on the next table in the coffee place. She lived in Paisley and, as a child, went to Arran every second year and Islay every other on her holidays. She reminded me of so many things from my own childhood holidays and we worked out we were on Kilnaughton Bay as children on the same day (due to an 'incident' that took place). Anyway, she said that the highlight of her Arran holiday was taking the Duchess of Hamilton for the day to Campbeltown and that every time she arrived, a piper would be playing on the quay. I can remember this from my own trips there but all I can recall is a 'big ship' coming in and indeed the aforesaid piper standing on the quay. I can also recall Woolworths being bursting at the seams shortly after the holidaymakers arrived!

When I was a nipper we used to come to Campbeltown via Greenock (I think) on the Duchess of Hamiton. When we got onto the boat it felt like the holiday had started. Used to love that journey. I can remember standing on the quay watching the Duchess of Hamiton coming in and it did seem huge.

Remarks: Following withdrawal from service was to be converted to restaurant but not realised.Scrapped at Troon..

Source:

http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=6338

Pics of the Duchess of Hamilton in Campbeltown here: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tramways/Duchesshamilton32.htm

Thank you, Kevin - loved seeing them. It probably did look massive to a wee one watching! Forgive my ignorance but what is the ensign on the first post photo?

I can remember as a boy my cousin and i were playing under the skeegs ,something which was very dangerous ,but we did just the same .When the Duchess came into the pier the wash from her nearly had us in the water ,we had to hold on for grim death .Very scary ,but we were back a few days later .Always had a fascination of her after that .

My ignorance is totally naked tonight blueboy but what are skeegs?

The old pier at Campbeltown was mostly made of wood ,there was wooden piles with big wooden crossmembers between them .We used to walk about on them sometimes fishing with small handlines .It was very slippery with all the oil from the boats and they were mostly covered in seaweed,but it was an adventure playground to us in they days.

Aye it was mental in below the skeegs catching wee cuddies.






Yes,I do know who the wee girls are.

blueboyno1 wrote:The old pier at Campbeltown was mostly made of wood ,there was wooden piles with big wooden crossmembers between them .We used to walk about on them sometimes fishing with small handlines .It was very slippery with all the oil from the boats and they were mostly covered in seaweed,but it was an adventure playground to us in they days.

Forgot to mention Govangirl ,this was below the pier .If i remember correctly the word skeeg was a corruption of the word skeg ,which is a part of a boats keel at the stern where the rudder is fixed .

bill wrote:Aye it was mental in below the skeegs catching wee cuddies.






Yes,I do know who the wee girls are.

Great fun all the same Bill

These photos make it look even bigger than I remember. It's a fine looking ship.

Was even more mental if you got a conger eel on you line

We mostly caught wee cuddies as you say and a few dougie poles (spelling) they were horrible things that stung you and were quite poisoness

blueboyno1 wrote:We mostly caught wee cuddies as you say and a few dougie poles (spelling) they were horrible things that stung you and were quite poisoness

You're thinking of a short spined sea scorpion. Not poisonous, but the spines contain an anti-coagulent which means that bleeding from a wound becomes rather difficult to stop. I've got some slides of the DoH and will look them out.

What a beautiful vessel.Such a shame that it was scrapped.