Simplon - The Passenger Ship Website - www.simplonpc.co.uk
Simplon
facebook
-
Simplon Home
-
www.simplonpc.co.uk
-
Recent Updates
-
Search Simplon
-
Copyright Information
-
Contact Simplon
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
- There are no postcards for sale on this website
Turk Launches
This page is devoted to the Thames excusion boat operators Turk Launches.
This is one a of series of
Simplon Postcards
pages devoted to
River Thames Excursion Boats
.
For details of Turk Launches' service see:-
www.turks.co.uk
From April to mid-September Turk's operate a scheduled passenger boat service between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court. The present business was established by Richard Turk, in Kingston, in 1710 during the reign of Queen Anne. Today R J Turk & Sons and its associated companies are run by his great-great-great grandson, Michael.
Initially, the firm concentrated on building passenger wherries and fishing punts, but their reputation soon spread and soon they were making boats for English and foreign Royalty and exporting pleasure craft - especially canoes and skiffs - all over the world.
In 1977, the Turk Launches fleet consisted of the
Empress of India
(built by Bonds in 1898) and
New Windsor Castl
e (both of which had come from
Arthur Jacobs
of Windsor, whose fleet later passed to
French Brothers
). Joining them were two modern cruisers built by M.Turk, the
Kingston Royale
(1976) and
Richmond Royale
(1977), both still in the 2005 fleet. They were soon joined by the
Windsor Two
, originally built for Joseph Mears in 1923 as
Jeff
, and which also served with
Arthur Jacobs
. She reverted to her original name in 1989. The 'Mississippi'-style
New Southern Belle
joined the fleet in 1982. In 1989, the three boats
Princess Marina
(1928),
Viking M
(1944) and
Yarmouth Belle
of F&B Boats (Kingston) joined the fleet.
Princess Marina
had served with Thames Launches, Alfred Crouch and Greenwich Pleasure Craft before joining F&B Boats.
Viking M
(ex-
Viking 1
) served with Woods & Cole, W.T.Metcalf, Premier Passenger Boats, Tideway Passenger Boats, and JGF Passenger Boats before joining F&B Boats.
Princess Marina
soon moved on, whilst
Viking M
and
Yarmouth Belle
remain in the 2006 fleet, although
Viking M
has been out of use for some years. Turks also took over C Whatford & Sons of Hampton Court along with their boat the
Windsor Two
, which ran short trips from Hampton Court.
Windsor Two
reverted to her original name
Jeff
in 1987. She is a Dunkirk veteran.
The 2007 fleet is:-
Jeff
,
Kingston Royale
,
New Southern Belle
,
Richmond Royale
and
Yarmouth Belle
(plus small launch
Verity
)
Contact:
www.turks.co.uk
Ships on this Page:-
Empress of India
- built: 1898 (Turk Launches 1976-1998, ex-Bonds,
A.Jacobs
)
Jeff
- built: 1923 (Turk Launches 1987- ex-
Windsor Two
)
Kingston Royale
- built: 1976
New Southern Belle
- built: 1982
New Windsor Castle
- built:1923 (ex-
A.Jacobs
)
Princess Marina
- built:1928 (Turk Launches 1989-1998)
Richmond Royale
- built: 1977
Yarmouth Belle
- built: 1892
Viking M
- built 1944 (Turk Launches 1989- )
Windsor Two
- built: 1923 (Turk Launches 1985-1987, renamed
Jeff
)
Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Excursion Boats
- Thames Header Page - Full List of Companies
Colliers Launches
- Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services -
Thames River Boats
Ed Langley
- Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services -
Thames River Boats
French Brothers
- services between Maidenhead and Hampton Court, plus Thames charters
JGF Passenger Boats
- Walton-on-Thames
Joseph Mears
- Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services 1907-1945 - passed to
Thames Launches
King Cruises
- Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services -
Thames River Boats
Maynard Launches
- Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services -
Thames River Boats
Turk Launches
- Richmond-Kingston-Hampton Court services plus Thames charters
Parr Boat Hire
- Kingston-Hampton Court services
www.turks.co.uk
- Turk Launches official website
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards
-
Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards
-
Home Page
References:-
Royal River Highway:
Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guides
-
Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
Search This Website:-
powered by
FreeFind
Turk Launches
From April to mid-September Turk's operate a scheduled passenger boat service between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court. The present business was established by Richard Turk, in Kingston, in 1710 during the reign of Queen Anne. Today R J Turk & Sons and its associated companies are run by his great-great-great grandson, Michael.
Initially, the firm concentrated on building passenger wherries and fishing punts, but their reputation soon spread and soon they were making boats for English and foreign Royalty and exporting pleasure craft - especially canoes and skiffs - all over the world.
Yarmouth Belle
(Turk Launches - built: 1892)
48grt - 82ft long - 125 passengers
Yarmouth Belle
was built in 1892 for services in Norfolk. She was brought to the Thames in 1946 by H.G.Hastings of Kingston. In 1955 she passed to Thames Launches until 1971, and then Harbourside investments until 1978. After a year with Marine Transit Ltd,
Yarmouth Belle
passed to W.Jackson in 1980, according to Frank Dix, but other references have her with Jackson Brothers in 1977. She passed to F&B Boats of Kingston c.1985, and to Turk Launches c.1989.
Yarmouth Belle
was later completely rebuilt and restored at the Turk boatyard in Sunbury-on-Thames. The paddle wheels and funnel are dummies.
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Click to open larger image in new window
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Enlarged copy of the card above
Click to open larger image in new window
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Click to open larger image in new window
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Enlarged copy of the card above
Click to open larger image in new window
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Click to open larger image in new window
Official postcard of
Yarmouth Belle
at Great Yarmouth.
Enlarged copy of the card above
Click to open larger image in new window
Photographs of
Yarmouth Belle
on the Thames.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2001.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2001.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Windsor Two - Jeff
(Turk Launches - built: 1923)
Mutt
and
Jeff
(
Mutt & Jeff
being the first successful newspaper comic strip which ran from 1908-1982) were built for Joseph Mears in 1922 and 1923. They were small single-screw petrol/paraffin launches of 40 feet length. They both passed to Thames Launches in 1946.
Mutt
was sold to J.Watson in 1953. Jeff had gone to Arthur Jacobs the previous year, and was renamed
Windsor Four
until 1973, when she became
Windsor Two
. She then passed to C Whatford & Sons of Hampton Court, who ran short trips from Hampton Court. By 1985 she had joined the Turk Launches fleet, and was renamed
Jeff
in 1987.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Kingston Royale
(Turk Launches - built: 1976)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, near Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, near Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, near Kingston, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Richmond Royale
(Turk Launches - built: 1977)
J.Arthur Dixon postcard PMX/23815 of
Richmond Royale
at Hampton Court
Click to open larger image in new window
Richmond Royale
at Teddington, now with small upper deck
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Teddington Lock, 18th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Richmond, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Richmond, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Richmond, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Richmond, 24th June 2006.