St John Crusader II 1996
In 1995 we had a wonderful summer when the sun shone from morning until night for four whole months.
John Hume’s successor as Chairman in 1995 was Dr. Jamie Sime who has had great involvement with the Scout Movement. He and his wife Pat became Trustees as well as continuing their activities with the Falkirk Branch where Jamie had at one time been Chairman.
For the first time the Trust held a “Trustees Conference Day” in early March at Falkirk when the Trustees assessed at length the service which we were providing for people with disabilities and the ways in which we could best support it. One of the outcomes was the introduction of a Marketing Committee, convened by Mrs. Pat Sime. It was a good show, Pat taking the work out of the hands of the Honorary Treasurer!
Mrs. Lily Neilson at Ratho, who had worked tirelessly and successfully in the task of organising cruises for many years, decided to retire but we were very fortunate to find a replacement in Mrs. Alison Innes, a member of the staff at the Bridge Inn.
Thanks to a most generous gift from the Order of St. John of Jerusalem a new boat, to be named the “St. John Crusader II” was ordered in 1995 for delivery in 1996. This was a most welcome addition to the fleet particularly when it is remembered that we are now attracting groups from long distances, e.g., Shetland, Lowestoft, Tyneside as well as the immediately popular Santa Claus cruises. The original St. John Crusader was sold as a community boat to be based on Wester Hailes.” (Brian Baxter)
By 1996, looking again at the operation in Ratho, we needed another new boat to replace “St John Crusader”. The “Mackay Seagull” had proved like any customer-based business that you must keep the highest quality service especially to the disabled. We approached the Order of St John who were delighted to fund a replacement. (BB)
This was a great opportunity to go back to the drawing board and look deeply at all the boats in Ratho business and Seagull Trust along with that great unsung hero of the Trust and canal, Stanley Ross-Smith with his architect background. We looked at how to improve a boat considering the comfort and safety of the disabled and the comfort of the volunteer crews.
So the “St John Crusader II” was built by Greentour in England with spacious cabin, low large panoramic windows, large flushing toilet and open deck space particularly with the blind in mind they would be able to smell the countryside and hear the different pitch of the engine echoing off the old bridges, listen to the birds, and smell the wild flowers. A quiet boat not to destroy the peace of the country and a helmsman’s cabin to protect the crew from the rigours of the Scottish weather.”
St John Ambulance were running boats in Nottingham so Stanley and Ronnie went to see them for ideas in designing Crusader II. The photo is their Crusader.
Some years later, the St John Ambulance folk returned the visit to Ratho to see how we ran things.
They were having financial difficulties and later offered boats to the Trust. The difference in their operation was that they paid some people whilst Seagull Trust is entirely volunteer with no wage costs.
Crusader II being built
Stanley inspecting progress.
Original wheel. Later changed for a larger traditional wood wheel.
Almost complete.
On to low loader
Crusader Arrives Ratho Very Wet 1 May 1996
We had another great summer in 1996 enabling 10,200 disabled or disadvantaged people to cruise on the inland waterways. At Ratho, the St John Crusader II took to the water, successfully accomplished by the Stewart Crane Company, who did the work free of charge.
Naming
The official launching took place on July 27th when she was named by the Prior of Scotland, for the Order of St John, Colonel James Stirling of Garden. (We keep the Colonel very busy!) The vessel cost the Trust £71,552 but we received some handsome donations to cover this. The Order of St John Edinburgh Committee gave us £54,690; the Scottish Tourist Board £7,751; BBC Children in Need £7,000; and we also had £750 from Age Concern, Scotland towards the lift for wheelchair access. (BB)