News & Events

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.
(Photos: Jane McGrory)
Postscript 4 November 2023: We are sad to report that David Ashley died on 31st October 2023. Our condolences to his family. (Roger Calvert)

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

                                                                                                                   

 

Cumbria Steam Gathering, Flookburgh, 30-31 July 2022

The Shamrock Trust shared a stand with the Steam Boat Association, represented by SL Senta. Saturday was very wet, but Sunday was lovely - see picture. Many Friends of Shamrock and other acquaintances visited, many enquiries were answered and many leaflets handed out.

Roger Calvert

2 August 2022

                                                                                                                   

 

Shamrock will have a stand at the Cumbria Steam Gathering at Flookburgh this coming weekend 29th - 30th July. Come and visit us!

Roger Calvert 24 July 2022

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There are some videos of Shamrock during the last year or so, which can be viewed on the videos page, accessed from the Photographs tab at the top of the page.

Roger Calvert, September 2021

Recommissioned!

At last we have been able to re-unite Shamrock with her newly re-tubed boiler. On Friday 7 May, all was put together again and she steamed again for the first time since 17 September 2020 and only the second time since 12 October 2019.

The pictures show the boiler being lowered in and Shamrock steaming away several hours later.

Roger Calvert
9 May 2021

Boiler Test 12 April 2021

As mentioned below, last autumn we decided to completely re-tube Shamrock's boiler. This, like everything else, has been delayed by lock-downs. However it has now been successfully completed by John Fowler (Leeds) Ltd, otherwise known as Old Hall Farm, Bouth, near Ulverston. The picture shows the boiler being tested on 12 April 2021. We hope to reinstall it in the boat in the next few weeks, and be steaming again.

Roger Calvert

17 April 2021

Shamrock's Pressure Gauge

Shamrock's pressure gauge came with the boiler from the River Irt locomotive on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Over the years, the dial has become discoloured and more difficult to read. We have now had a new dial made. Notice that the red line is not in the conventional place at the top. This is because River Irt operated at 165 psi, while Shamrock operates at 120 psi. You can see where the old red line was scratched out on the old dial.

Shamrock News - The last 10 months

In the autumn of 2019 some rot was identified in Shamrock's stem. In December 2019, the boiler and engine were lifted out at Windermere Jetty, and Shamrock was towed up to Wray Castle, where she was hauled out on the slipway in the 'Black Boathouse'.

In January and February 2020, the stem was repaired and a start made on painting the underwater part (the sterngear). The inside of the boat was thoroughly cleaned.

Then came lockdown. Nothing else happened until July.

In July, the rest of the underwater part was repainted, as well as the repaired area of the stem. Various other minor repairs were done.

On 9 August 2020, Shamrock was re-launched and towed back to Windermere Jetty by SL Etna (see videos under Photographs/videos). There, the boiler and engine were re-installed, and Shamrock steamed again on 17 September 2020.

Unfortunately on that outing, a leaking boiler tube was identified. Further investigation showed there were several other tubes which appeared badly pitted, so the decision was made to lift the boiler out and replace all the tubes. It is hoped that this will be completed in the next few weeks.

Roger Calvert

26 September 2020


 

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

    Arrival
Her Majesty alights...

.

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.

Guests 1
Guests 2

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.

Buffet organised by Dot and Marguerite.

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.

Roger inspects the buffet.

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 :-

  1. To haul her out of the water for inspection of propeller, rudder and exterior hull condition.
  2. The boiler is to be removed and cleaned before any necessary repairs prior to testing.
  3. An engine service is planned.
  4. Further varnishing work to be done.
  5. Structural hull repairs will be assessed and carried out.
  6. 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.