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Video History Scotland: DVD Memories of Millport 1930-1985 Part 2

The Island of Millport a favourite trip or holiday destination for so many generations

DVD Memories of Millport 1930-1985 Part 2

(from Video History Scotland www.videohistoryscotland.com)

The beautiful island of Millport or Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde has held a special place in our hearts for many generations. With its beautiful sandy beaches, secret coves famous landmarks and spectacular views across to the majestic Arran hills, it has long been a favourite destination for trips and holidays. Many of us have memories of happy times spent cycling around the island, boating or strolling on the sand.

In the Memories of Millport DVD, we take a truly fascinating journey back in time from 1930 – 1985, around the island’s favourite attractions and popular destinations. We witness and sail aboard the numerous graceful steamers that brought visitors to this magical island over the last 80 years. These include: The Lucy Ashton, The Talisman, The Duchess of Fife, The Marchioness of Lorne, The Jupiter, Maid of Ashton, The Wee Cumbrae and of course The Keppel and – as they race each other to the pier.

We remember long summer days spent visiting the island’s favourite haunts including The Cumbrae Club, The Garrison Tea Room, Kennedy’s Fintry Bay Tea Room, Coia’s Ritz Cafe, Kames Café, Copeland’s Emporium or Walter Kerrs or Mapes Toys &Cycle Hire to collect that all important bike. We visit Newton Sands, a children’s paradise with its donkey rides, Kames Bay and its vast sandy beach and West Bay Park. It’s the 1930’s and we board the PS Duchess of Fife at Wemyss Bay for a sail to Millport, packed with visitors all eager to explore the island’s delights. We catch the “Wee Fife” as she makes a call in the 1950’s at Keppel Pier, as the graceful paddle steamer P.S. Marchioness of Lorne also arrives.

Cycling around the island we relive visits to famous landmarks including Crocodile Rock, Lion Rock, Baby Lion, Indian Rock, Queen Victoria’s head and “The Wishing Well”. We recall the days of the concerts on the beach led by the ”Seaside Mission”? It’s 1950 and we join the P.S. Waverley at Largs for a sail to Millport. Sadly 1953 sees the retirement of the elegant steamer “The Duchess of Fife”, after fifty years of faithful service and the introduction of the diesel electric steamer The Talisman.

Towards the end of the 1965 summer season we catch a final view at Millport pier of the PS Talisman shortly before she was withdrawn from service. In 1967 M.V. Rose is introduced to the Largs Millport route – this vessel was subsequently renamed M.V. Keppel .

Ever changing requirements saw the new slipways built in 1972 for both Cumbrae at the Old Tattie Pier and Largs, in order to accommodate the former Skye car ferries of Caruisk II and Largs. In I975 we board the P.S. Waverley at Largs in her first season with new owners and new colours, amidst a busy Largs pier shared with The Kilbrannan, Keppel, Caruisk II and The Queen Mary.

These are but just some of the highlights in this extremely rare, unique and intriguing look back at Millport’s rich and fascinating history.

As the “Sleeping Warrior” lies in the dusky mist at the end of another hot summer day on this beautiful isle, The Keppel slips away on her last call of the day. The hills and bays of Bute and the majestic mountains of Arran are a breath-taking sunset backdrop as we bid the Isle of Cumbrae a fond farewell.

Narrated by Iain Anderson BBC Scotland    

Running Time 55mins

Video History Scotland Capturing the History of the Clyde Coast/                                                                  

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