Building Ratho Dry Dock and Centre 1993
Councillor Eric Drummond of Edinburgh District Council, after discussion initially with Ronnie Rusack at the Bridge Inn Ratho, enabled the Seagull Trust to access a sizeable amount of money from Dunedin Development to develop facilities.
(The funding referred to elsewhere from Glass Edin Securities might be the same funding. Can anyone clarify?)
Ronnie says: “Out came the list – land, a reception centre with pump out, water, disabled toilet, dry dock for all the boats on the canal and car parking. Adding up the sums it was going to cost more than was being offered, but I had just finished a project with the Scottish Tourist Board what at that time were able to grant aid to projects with tourist merit. Seagull qualified, as for many years we have taken visitors from all over the country especially those staying at the Trefoil Centre not far from Ratho, and backed up by money raised by Brigadier Coutts and his wonderful gang of fund raisers, the project was set into motion. Alpin Ross-Smith, a brilliant young architect sadly no longer with us, drew up the plans exactly as we required.
The site before the centre and dry dock.
Red boat is Crusader I.
First Sod ceremony
A donation from Dunedin is handed over.
1992
At Ratho work began in early Spring with the closure of the westward route followed a few weeks later with the “sod-cutting” ceremony when most of the party wore Wellington Boots – it was pouring rain.
After damming the canal and taking the water out of it, a sod digging ceremony was arranged. We explained to the waiting press that many years before this was the site of the Ratho infamous murder and, always looking for some PR for Seagull and unknown to Councillor Drummond who was to perform the ceremony, we hid a plastic replica of a human skull in the canal mud. Well, you can imagine the reaction of the invited crowd and the press cameramen! It got the project off to a good start and also demonstrated the great deal of fun there has been within Seagull over the years.
Because the dry dock build meant damming the canal to the west, cruises had to go east to Hermiston.
Crusader tested out the route east getting stuck in the mud several times
The dry dock project was also responsible for the now crazy hobby of restoring vintage fire engines. Towards the end of the building of the project and money becoming scarce, we required a very powerful pump to empty the dock. I contacted a fire Brigade officer I know in Glasgow and explained that we need a pump that could pump 180,000 gallons of water, remove silt and not destroy the fish. He replied you need a fire engine fitted with an injector pump. I laughed, “the Trust can’t afford a fire engine!” The following week Bob Wright telephoned to tell me that he knew where a fire engine was being sold at auction. Not being totally convinced this was a good idea, I replied go for it but the budget is £500, thinking there is no way be would be successful. A day later a phone call came through during a very busy lunch. I can remember the exact words still – “Fire Master Rusack, you are now the proud owner of a fire engine and it cost you £350”. How right he had been. It was the only successful way of removing the water.
The fire engine was restored and when not in use at the dry dock goes around the country with a stall publicising the Seagull Trust and the canal. Regretfully it has now been joined by three other machines! (Ronnie Rusack)
Fire Engine, Crusader I in Dry Dock, Frogman in Canal!
The 1st of March 1993 was a day to remember, the opening of the Reception Center and Dry Dock by HRH the Princess Royal at Ratho with the band of the Scots Guards in attendance. I’m sure it was the coldest day of the year but very enjoyable even though the knees of Frank and myself were pretty well frozen- we had our kilts on. Her Royal Highness was clearly very interested in our work and the facilities we offered to the disabled passengers we carry in our boats. (NS)
The morning of Princess Anne’s visit was wonderful with the children from Graysmills Special School on the Seagull Trust boat and the Ratho Primary School children lining the canal banks. The pipe band of the Royal Scots played and the Bridge Inn fire crew gave a water salute. It was a great start to a new era in Seagull history. (RR)
Chairman John Hume introduces HRH Princess Anne to Ronnie Rusack.
Lord Provost Norman Irons wearing kilt.
Plaque on reception centre wall.
Notice the reception centre arches are open. They were glazed around 2004.
Falkirk and Ratho new premises, together cost the Trust a total of £550,000.(NS)
In 1996 we we sadly lost the services of our Architect, Alpin Ross-Smith, son of our Vice-Chairman, Stanley Ross-Smith and his wife, June. It was Alpin who had planned both the Falkirk and Ratho projects and his death was a great loss to the Trust.
In 2009 two ugly flat roof "boxes" were added to the back of Alpin Ross-Smith's rather fine building. An extension in style with the original building was considered (and plans drawn) but it would have been costly.
One extension was intended as a Trust office but was only used for a short time before the office moved to Falkirk.
This was named after Frank Coutts and Norman Simpson.
The second extension was a workshop and was donated by the late Ken Gumley who had been one of the branch skippers.
Painting St John Edinburgh in the open dry dock.
The operation of the dry dock was managed by the employees of the Bridge Inn while Ronnie Rusack had the Inn.
After Ronnie's retirement the Seagull Trust volunteers took over the operation. A plus side was increased income to the Trust since there are now no wage costs.
The Shed
The Dry Dock was open to the elements until 2017 when the covering "Shed" was erected at a cost of £80000 largely funded out of the general funds of the Trust.
A steel beam structure was built over the dry dock.
A sliding door gives access.
The dry dock can be booked by all canal users in return for a donation to the Trust funds.
Popularity has increased following the shed build.