Fairy Queen - forth and Clyde Canal

[winger]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone has any research resources they could recommend for details on the Fairy Queen, specifically crew rosters.
My Grandfather William McCann was apparently the captain on the last Fairy Queen - however he died in 1933 and I know the pleasure boats were operating on the Canal until 1939 - I have him on the 1881/81/1901/1911 Census and they all list him as a stoker/oilworker/fireman - non of them describe him working on the boats although I know as a fireman he would have been working on steam boilers and all his family were boatmen on the Canal - so the theory fits! but I wondered if there was anyway of getting a crew roster to confirm the history. I also have his poorlaw from 1924 where he says he is not working. I have checked most of the Canal websites - and although they have some fantastic photo's of the "Queens" there is no mention of the crews.
thanks in advance for any help on this one - it's one of the few details left to confirm on his life and it would be brilliant if I could!

[Currie]

Hello Winger,

According to “The Canals of Scotland” Jean Olivia Lindsay, 1968.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=PO9 ... CD0Q6AEwBA

“ ………. in 1893 the first of the 'Queen' steamers was brought into service by James Aitken & Company of Kirkintilloch, in order to open up 'the unknown reaches of the canal' as a pleasure route. This boat, the Fairy Queen, had accommodation for 200 passengers, made the return journey between Kirkintilloch and Port Dundas twice daily, and operated evening cruises from Kirkintilloch to Craigmarloch and back to Port Dundas. It was succeeded in 1897 by a larger vessel, Fairy Queen II; and the cruises proved so popular that Aitken's introduced a second boat, the May Queen, in 1903 and a third, the Gipsy Queen, in 1905. Fairy Queen II was disposed of in 1912, and the May Queen in 1918; but the Gipsy Queen, the largest steamer ever to operate on the canal, continued to offer 'popular pleasure sails across Bonnie Scotland' from Port Dundas to Craigmarloch until the outbreak of the Second World War.”

According to the Scotsman, July 4, 1930, Captain James Aitken died the previous day, aged about 70, at his residence, Victoria terrace, Dullater, E. Dumbarton.

Here’s the FQ1, she’s back in Scotland, Glasgow, in 1913.
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... p?id=20339

And the FQ2, according to which she went to Newcastle in 1912.
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... p?id=13137

The Scotsman, 31 May, 1923, reported the launch of a Motor Vessel, Fairy Queen, 18 tons, by Hugh Maclean, Govan, for James Aitken & Company, Kirkintilloch. I suppose that was the FQ3.

It seems from the above that there was no Fairy Queen owned by Aitken between 1912 and 1923 when the Motor Vessel arrived. I wonder what happened to James Aitken & Company of Kirkintilloch, and where are the Company’s records? Maybe the library for the area has something or knows something.

Hope that helps,
Alan

[winger]

Hi alan,

massive thanks for your links and info - I missed this site and the additional info you supplied is really useful for narrowing down the dates when he would have worked on the Fairy Queen.
I wish they would bring them back!
thanks again - now I am away to look at my timeline for him
cheers
Christine

[steiner]

Hello

The canal at Kikintilloch is still in use and canal craft still sail on it to various destinations. I think they are organised by the Seagull Trust. They may have an archive of old photographs etc? Also might be worth trying thr William Patrick library in Kirkintilloch too. They also have a local phot archive. Just a thought.

Andy

[Billbrown]

I am the one of the grandsons of Captain Malclom Stark, Captain of the May, Gypsy and Fairy queens. This info is available in the museum at Kirkintilloch cross. There is also a book called "swifts and queens" and that can be purchased at the museum.
Captain Stark started when he was 11 years old and was captain in 1940 when the last of the "Queens" was put to rest. He started the year of 1883 on the queens and was 68 years of age when he made that last journey, he died at the age of 94. Mr McCann was the engineer of the Gypsy Queen.

[StewL]

Hello Billbrown

This is an old post hopefully Steiner and Winger have the same email address and they will get notification of your post.
Enjoy TS, it is a very friendly and helpful site.

[Lucie]

Greetings

I came across this forum with great interest.

I am working on a documentary about the Forth and Clyde canal and am particularly interested in hearing from those who have some connection to the pleasure boats - fairy queen, gipsy queen, may queen.

Winger and Bill Brown - you both say your grandfathers worked on these boats. I would love to hear from you to find out more. Please do send me a PM so we might be able to discuss more.

Thank you so much.