Ah, my dear old things...welcome to 2015. I have a feeling in my water that it is going to be quite a year,
First up - step forward those fun bus aficionados and 80's groovers, the fabulous Gill and Rick. In keeping with Rick's inimitable generous style , close chums and family were gathered to celebrate Gill's landmark birthday upon reaching the same age as the beautiful one. Happy Birthday Gill.
With a dress code of best bib and tucker; posh frocks, ball gowns and dickies, there was intense pressure on the offspring's inheritance as the beautiful one insisted on sourcing an appropriate outfit. Worth every penny - absolutely stunning.
Now Rick is a sea faring boat nut; loving all things that bob about on the beautiful briny so it should be no surprise that the celebration was hosted on the mother of all things that float...the SS Great Britain. IKB's master piece. So well built that if the Titanic had been similarly constructed it would have given that iceberg what for and sailed merrily on.
For those not in the know .......
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| Bristol genius ... |
The grand stateroom on the upper deck provided a wonderful venue for fine food and wine. Many new friends were made and old chums were reacquainted with as we gorged ourselves on mushroom risotto followed by roast rib eye and a plethora of desserts. A fine, fine feast.
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| The Birthday girl .... |
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| Genial hosts |
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| With sister Rachel |
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Beautiful people ...
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| Ladies Man ! |
Such a good night - live band, a happy DJ and a well stocked bar.
With the run of the ship, we investigated it from bow to stern and from under the water!!!
2 quirky facts;
The first English cricket 11 to tour Australia sailed on the Great Britain in 1861. Known as the H H Stephenson team after the team captain
who in 1858 took three wickets with three consecutive deliveries. A collection was held for him, and he was presented with a hat bought with the proceeds and thus the 'Hat Trick' entered sporting parlance
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| won 6 lost 2 and drew 4 |
Anthony Trollope of Victorian writing fame wrote the novel Lady Anne whilst steaming to Australia aboard the Great Britain.
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| A tad hirsute! |
Here's the history lesson ...
Built in 1843, the SS Great Britain set a number of precedents in engineering design. She was the first ocean-going iron ship, the first with screw propellers, and the forerunner of modern passenger liners. At three hundred and twenty-two feet long, she was also the largest passenger ship then afloat.
Brunel's curved design for the propellers, perhaps aided by his ability to draw a perfect circle freehand, proved so effective that even modern computer-aided design has produced only marginal efficiency improvements. Linked to her one thousand horsepower engine, it was perhaps not surprising that on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic she broke the previous speed record, completing the voyage in only fourteen days.
1846-1881 Australia and beyond
After three successful years on the Britain to America route, in 1846 she ran aground off Ireland. Her salvage cost enough to bankrupt the ship's owners so she was sold on to Gibbs, Bright and Co. In 1851 her new owners had her refitted, including improvements to the engine, and used her to carry immigrants to Australia.
On the Australia run she was in high demand. In an age where sailing the oceans carried high risks, sailing on the SS Great Britain meant you got there safely, and usually you got there fast. She would eventually sail this route thirty-two times, carrying the first British Cricket team among others. During the Crimean War she was in service as a troop carrier, taking 44,000 troops to the war.
In 1882 she was converted to a sailing ship, carrying freight instead of passengers. She would serve in this role for the remainder of her sailing days
Abandoned In 1886, the SS Great Britain sought sanctuary in Port Stanley in the Falklands after sustaining damage. Assessed as unseaworthy, she was abandoned in the Falkland Islands, to be used as a floating warehouse and coal store. In 1937 her retirement became less dignified when she was finally scuttled. Left to rust in Sparrow Cove, her glory days past, she was almost entirely forgotten.
In 1970 it was decided that abandoning such a historic vessel was unacceptable and the SS Great Britain project began the ambitious plan to move her from the Falklands to her home port in Bristol. Loaded onto a specially built pontoon, she was sailed halfway round the world back to Britain. The pontoon was unable to sail up the Avon, and so the ancient vessel was carefully patched and floated one last time. She was then towed, floating on her own, up the river to her home dock.
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