This article was first published in the West Sussex Gazette on 16th September 1993

Nostalgic memories of the distinctive sound of steam whistles and of the swishing of rotating paddles driving period paddle steamers to and from Worthing pier are treasured by Worthing reader Phil Hayden in this second episode on those gentle ladies of the Channel.

    Last week's story started in the 1880s and continued up until 1923, having mentioned five paddle steamers by name that cruised between Channel resorts.

    It was in 1926 that the second paddler named 'Waverley' made her debut cruising the south coast, returning every summer with the exception of three seasons, to become a firm favourite with trippers. She was not alone, for other paddlers working the south coast resorts during that period included: the 'Brighton Belle', 'Brighton Queen', 'Glen Gower' and 'Westward Ho!'

    These paddle steamers of the Campbell line were renowned for their smart appearance. 'Their all-white funnels with naval cowls were washed down every day,' commented Phil, 'and everything about them was yacht-like: the pale lilac tinted white paint of their upperworks, varnished handrails, scrubbed decks, brightly polished brass, with Eau de Nil boot topping showing along the waterline. The crews were always well turned out, and civility was the order of the day.'

    'The memory of their uniquely melodious steam whistles sounding as they approached a pier or on departing, is a sound never forgotten.
    'Happy memories of happier times.'

    Needless to say, at the outbreak of World War II the pleasure trips were cancelled when the beaches and piers were sealed off as no-go areas.

    'Campbell's paddlers, like their predecessors in the First World War were commandeered by the Admiralty for minesweeping duties,' said Phil, who added patriotically, 'They served with distinction, particularly at the evacuation of Dunkirk when many a B.E.F. (British Empire Forces) soldier owed his freedom to them. Sadly, the 'Brighton Belle' and the 'Devonia' were both lost to enemy action at that time.'

    The only ship of Campbell's fleet to survive the war was the 'Glen Gower', which returned to the Sussex coast when hostilities ended, where she was joined by Campbell's first screw turbine steamer, the 1939-built 'Empress Queen', but owing to a number of restrictions still in force, some of its sailings were cancelled.

    It was not long before the Paddle steamer 'Glen Gower' was joined by four other paddlers, when in 1948, the 'Britannia' and 'Glen Usk', together with two newly built ships, 'Cardiff Queen' and 'Bristol Queen', plied the coastal routes.

    'But it proved to be a dismal season,' Phil recalled, ' and the following year saw only one ship coming round to the Sussex coast from the headquarters of P & A Campbell's White Funnel Fleet at Bristol.

    The demise of steamer excursions continued, until in 1956 even that one solitary paddler, the handsome 'Glen Gower', made her last appearance.

    With Britain in the grip of post-war economic austerity in the 1950s, P & A Campbell suffered badly as holidaymakers began to look to organised holiday camps for their family holidays --- the style of holiday activities was changing.

    'In the 'baby boom' following the war, these obviously held many attractions for a struggling young couple with children,' Phil explained.
    A Receiver was appointed to the company in 1959 but it is still in existence, operating the motor vessel 'Balmoral', which we still see in Worthing on such occasions as the annual trip to the Isle of Wight by the charity Missions to Seamen.

    The 'Waverley' that visits Worthing now and again is the last remaining sea-going passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built just after World War II, it belongs to the Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd.

    Phil Hayden is secretary of the South Coast Branch of the World Ship Society and is anxious to preserve any old photos or postcards of P & A Campbell's paddle steamers that you may have. Would any reader prepared to lend them to Phil for a very short time please phone him on Worthing (01903) 238974.