The old lady (launched 1914) of the P. & A. Campbell's White Funnel Fleet 'Glen Usk' early in January 1962 laid up at Penarth Dock. I recall that she was the last ship to leave prior to the closure of the dock to traffic so it is a truly sad photographic record of the end of an era. She had been transferred to Cardiff by March 1962 and left for the breakers yard at Passage West, Cork in late April 1963.

The arrival of the 'St. Trillo' to the fleet coupled with the cost of her maintenance and conversion from coal to oil burning was prohibitive in the face of declining passenger numbers. She was considered by many in the service of the company to be the 'Masterpiece' of the fleet in her heyday. I recall my day trips to Weston and Ilfracombe on her with great warmth. [001] [000] The lower image has been colourised.

The paddle box of the 'Glen Usk' showing the demise of the once proud lady of the fleet. The photograph was taken during her last year of life probably at Cardiff in 1962 or early 1963 and is a feature of a great book by Robert Wall named 'Bristol Channel Pleasure Steamers' published in 1972. [324] The lower image has been colourised.