Grandson of Shamrock's Previous Owner Visits
On Saturday 2 June 2023 David Ashley, the grandson of Charles Ashley who owned Shamrock in the 1930s, visited Shamrock in the Windermere Jetty Museum with members of his family, on the eve of his 90th birthday.
| Left: David Ashley and Roger Mallinson discuss the booklet The Story of Shamrock. | Right: Roger, David and David's great-grandson Oscar. |
Roger Mallinson MBE
I am delighted to report that Roger Mallinson, Chairman of The Shamrock Trust and Honorary Member of the Seam Boat Association has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, 2023.
The citation is “Chair and Boat Manager, The Shamrock Trust. For services to Steam Boating Heritage and the community in Cumbria”.
Hearty congratulations Roger!
Roger Calvert
30 December 2022
January 2020
A BIG THANK YOU
The Trust, as a whole, would like to thank Lakeland Aquatics, of Bowness on Windermere for the gift of a full set of mooring ropes for "Shamrock".
Security, of all kinds, for this unique boat is always important and begins with keeping her securely moored - in all locations and in any weather or water conditions.
We hope any team members of Lakeland Aquatics will come to see the ropes in use - and have a pot of tea later in the season.
Afternoon S'teaM
Wednesday 18th September 2019 - afternoon.
SL Shamrock will be taking Afternoon Tea at the Windermere Jetty Museum in company with other privately owned steamboats and her newly restored sister ship SL Osprey. Do please come along to join us for light refreshments - or perhaps call into the Jetty's own cafe.
The museum itself is well worth a visit if time permits.
We look forward to seeing you.
2019
COFFEE MORNING 2019
To be held at the Coronation Hall Ulverston on Saturday 10th August, this years' coffee morning will be at the end of the SBA Windermere Rally.
As always we will have a bric a brac stall and a book stall - plus the cake and baked goods stall which is always a favourite with visitors. If you have any items to contribute the please contact us using the details on the contact page - we can arrange collection. Please come along to support this fund raising event.
AGM 2019
Where - Leven Valley & District Sports and Community Centre at Haverthwaite (LA12 8AE)
When- Sunday 16th June at 11.00 am
Why - To catch up on all progress and plans for SL Shamrock - parking and coffee freely available.
2018
Report on Roger Mallinson's 80th Birthday Party.
This land mark celebration was held at Brathay Park in their magnificent boat house. Roger M was skippered to the event aboard "Shamrock" by Roger Calvert, accompanied by Queen Victoria and John Brown, plus his dog, Whappit III
.
Dot Bullough greeted all the guests on behalf of the Shamrock Trust and took the whole party up to the boathouse to see the wonderful buffet she and Marguerite Calvert had provided.
Matters only went slightly off piste when the "Shamrock" shaped birthday cake - complete with miniature defaced ensign and Whappit sitting on deck - was finished off with a firework down the funnel; resulting in what was termed unacceptable emissions ! However, the meal was delicious and hot drinks were freshly brewed on board the boat.
Roger's irreplaceable contribution to steam boating, both in the Cumbria and throughout the UK, was fully acknowledged as his friends wished him a very happy birthday.
2017
Maintenance Strategy 2017
There was a meeting held on 11th February regarding maintenance and other associated matters, chaired by Roger Calvert.
The news in brief is that as Shamrock is due for her ten year survey and a plan of action has been put in place to prepare her for this key event. The principal steps are :-
- To haul her out of the water for inspection of propeller, rudder and exterior hull condition.
- The boiler is to be removed and cleaned before any necessary repairs prior to testing.
- An engine service is planned.
- Further varnishing work to be done.
- Structural hull repairs will be assessed and carried out.
- A thorough clean of the boat will be completed.
Although this means Shamrock will be out of commission for at least ten weeks, the benefits will be significant, allowing the Friends to establish a cleaning and maintenance rota that will keep the boat in fine condition for the rest of the 2017 season and ongoing.
All volunteers should contact Dot Bullough or Roger Calvert for the dates and locations of workshops.
Further details of future planning will be available very soon.
The Restored Boiler....and other efforts
December 2017 saw some bright but very cold weather on Windermere, it also saw a party of volunteers from the Shamrock Trust gather to move the boat from temporary slipped storage to Winter storage following some important maintenance work.
This was an important occasion as this was the first time "Shamrock" had been afloat since the completion of the major repaint and varnishing project by Adrian Stone and his team during the late summer.
The boat was carefully relaunched by trolley and tugged down to Bowness Bay with Peter Hammond and Simon Gregg on board with Roger Mallinson.
The Boiler has been overhauled and repainted at Simpsons' Boatyard and was towed from Arrad Foot by Roger Calvert before being craned in.
The final part of the operation was to tug "Shamrock" to Ferry Nab where work continues.
The steam plant is to be re-installed and the internal fittings reinstated. It is also planned to begin a long term programme of conservation cleaning and curating the contents of the boat, as they represent an accurate picture of the accoutrements required for a pleasure cruise in 1906.
This was another day when supplies of hot coffee and warm coats eased a process that offered some interesting challenges.
The "Shamrock" Trust continues to keep this wonderful vessel in excellent operative order using simple but effective means - and a wide range of skills generously given by the volunteer team.
For many visitors to the Lake District she represents a rare survival of a way of life and a technology long past that still hold a valid place on the Lake today.
