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Saturday 31 December 2011

SS Christian Radich





Built in 1937 for the Norwegian ship owner Christian Radich,she is a three masted full rigged ship normally with a crew of 18,she was used in the BBC telivisiom series The Onedin Line.

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Seaway Endeavour







Seaway Endeavour in James Watt Dock, she was an acoustic research vessel of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service department of the Royal Navy, since November 2000 operated under contract by Serco Denholm, based at HMNB Clyde, Great Harbour, Greenock. Twelve scientists could be carried, and the ship was used in support of trials as well as supporting RN diving training.

The ship was named after Colonel James Templer, an early British military pioneer of balloons.

Built by Hall, Russell & Company in 1966 as a stern trawler then converted in 1980 for use by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, her displacement is 1,300 tonnes and dimensions 56 m by 11 m by 5.6 m. Her complement is 14 and speed 12 knots. After a serious fire gutted the ship in 1990 it had a major rebuild, and it was converted in 2001 to support diving training. By July 2011 she was on the sales list and sold to a Swedish firm and her name changed to 'Seaway Endeavour' with a blue and white livery for further future use as a research trials ship.

Saturday 24 December 2011

SD Omagh





Royal marines returning to Sd Omagh after an exercise on the Clyde.

Saturday 17 December 2011

Friday 9 December 2011

Dunure Castle








Dunure Castle lies on a cliff edge by the small coastal village of Dunure,a craggy picturesque ruin which is maintained by Historic Scotland.

The castle was the first built by the Kennedy family, there has probably been a castle on this site since the 13th century. The present castle dates from the 15th century when the Kennedy family had a powerful influence on the area.

Gilbert Kennedy 4th earl of Cassills obtained lands from Glenluce Abbey in Galloway by having a monk forge the necessary signatures.

The monk was silenced by a hired killer who in turn was hung by the Kennedys for an apparent theft.

In 1565 the Earl confined Allan Stewart commendator of nearby Crossraguel Abbey in Dunure Castle.

He was tortured, roasted on a spit until he renounced his claim on the lands.

Lord Bargany coveted the lands for himself and had the castle stormed one morning by a force of men hiding in the chapel just outside the main gate.

Lord Bargany then arrived with a large force of men and after some discusion Kennedy and Bargany split the lands between themselves.

The Commendator was taken to the town of Ayr and given a pension.

Monday 5 December 2011