Walkers along Burnham-On-Sea’s Esplanade were treated to a glimpse of the historic 60 year-old ship Balmoral as it glided past the town on Thursday morning (July 24th).
The Balmoral was on its annual trip up the River Parrett to Dunball, near Bridgwater, to collect several hundred passengers booked on an excursion around the Bristol Channel.
It was met in Burnham at 9.30am by Bridgwater Bay’s harbour master Chris Spencer on his pilot boat and then docked at Dunball before setting sail at 11am with its passengers onboard.
The ship was built in Southampton in 1949 and operated under the Southampton Red Funnel Fleet for 20 years. She then moved round to the Bristol Channel where she became the last member of P&A Campbell’s famous White Funnel Fleet. When they ceased operation in 1980, the Balmoral moved to Dundee to become a floating restaurant, and there she stood, gradually falling into disrepair, until she was rescued by the friends and supporters.
She returned to service in 1986 and to this day operates her main summer season in the Bristol Channel, offering day excursions to popular coastal resorts. She also makes visits to other ports and piers throughout the UK in the spring and autumn.
In the winter of 2002, the Balmoral was fitted with new engines. The project was dependent on nearly £150,000 being raised through the help of the public sector and local councils and fundraising which in turn secured a further £750,000 contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Balmoral sailed past Burnham’s beach on Thursday morning
The ship was met by Burnham’s Harbour Master, who sailed out on a pilot boat
The Balmoral passed Burnham again at 11.30am with hundreds of passengers onboard
