Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Sea Breezes Article 1989 - 'Boyhood Days on the Bristol Channel' . . .

Naturally, working together during the winter one became acquainted with the masters and officers of the whole fleet, many of whom served as RNR officers during the Second World War.

An interesting feature of Clive Spencer's account was the bunkering of the coal-fired ships. Fortunately, we on the 'Empress Queen' were spared this task as the ship was fuelled by oil."

That letter was written by Cornelius Blake of Newport, Gwent. A second response in the same edition of 'Sea Breezes' came from the former Captain of the 'Ravenswood'.

'It was interesting for me to read the article by Clive Spencer about P. & A. Campbell's paddle steamer 'Ravenswood'. Considering the time lapse, the details and events seem to be extremely accurate, with the exception as far as I am concerned that I lived in Bristol at the time, not Newport, and was 28 years old, not in my thirties.

I would like to thank Capt. Spencer for his good wishes and assure him that I am still around and still slightly involved in excursion vessels in the Bristol Channel, the 'Waverley' and 'Balmoral', but now not in a sailing capacity.

During my sailing years with Campbells I had the pleasure of being master at one time or another of all the paddlers mentioned in the article, although mainly the 'Cardiff Queen' for a number of consecutive years.

The 'smartly uniformed mate' referred to was either Leo Virgo or Les Brooks. Capt. Virgo, who took over the 'Ravenswood' when I was transferred to 'Britannia', is also still around and living in Bristol.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Waverley Excursions Ltd on their tremendous efforts to perpetuate the paddle steamer era and in particular Capt David Neill and Capt Steve Michel who work so hard to make it all happen. - George S. Gunn, Swansea, West Glam.'

To follow is an extract from the book written by Captain George Gunn 'White Funnel Memories' [308] which provides an insight into the life of Ordinary Seaman Clive Spencer and his rise to Captain.