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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Fairmile Classic Cruises
2007-2008
Page 2: Jurassic Coast Cruise
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Swanage-based excursion vessel
Western Lady III
. This is one of a series of pages devoted to
Western Lady
and other wartime Fairmile 'B' launches later used as excursion vessels, and shows images of a cruise taken in September 2007.
Fairmile Classic Cruises- Page 1
gives an overview of this vessel.
Western Lady III
was built by Southampton Steam Joinery Ltd in 1941 and commissioned as RML497 in July 1942. This Fairmile B Motor launch was stationed with 62nd ML Flotillas at Portland between 1942 and 1944. She was then transferred to Kirkwall in January 1944 on anti-submarine target towing duties until August when she sent to Appledore. She join the 69th Flotilla based at Felixstowe until eventually being sold off at Itchenor in 1947 and entering service with the Western Lady Ferry between Brixham and Torquay Service in that same year.
Western Lady III
was recently withdrawn at Torbay, but returned to service from Swanage for Fairmile Classic Cruises in August 2007 running five cruises along the Dorset coast daily, apart from Tuesdays when a she took a day trip to Yarmouth (Isle of Wight). Services ran again in 2008, but the company ran into financial problems in September 2008 and she also had certificate issues with the MCA. In June 2009
Western Lady III
was bought by the
Greenway Ferry
and entered service later during the summer of 2009 as
The Fairmile
between Torbay, Dartmouth and Greenway after a very substantial refit.
By 2007 there were only four surviving Fairmile 'B' launches in the UK:-
Western Lady (RML535)
- Private ownership (ex-Torbay)
The Fairmile
(ex-Western Lady III (RML497))
- Torbay/Dart excursions with
Greenway Ferry
Western Lady IV (RML526)
- Private ownership (ex-Torbay)
Jamaican Moon (ML357)
- House boat in St Osyth
A fifth Fairmile 'B', the
Golden Galleon
, was broken up in 2006. She had run excursions on the Norfolk Broads. The
Fairmile 'B' Header Page
lists other fairmiles illustrated on this website.
Sections on this Page:-
Western Lady III
- Images of a Jurassic Coast Cruise from Swanage in 2007
Western Lady III
- Additional images at Swanage in 2007
Western Lady Pages:-
Western Lady Ferry Service
Fairmile Classic Cruises - Page 1
Fairmile Classic Cruises - Page 2
- This Page
Fairmile 'B' Header Page
- list of Fairmile 'B' launches used in the UK
Greenway Ferry
- owners of
Western Lady III
since 2009 - renamed
The Fairmile
www.savethewesternladies.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
- Steve Powell's Western Lady website
Associated Pages:-
Poole Area Excursion Vessels
Devon Excursion Boats
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards
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Home Page
References:-
The Fair Few Miles -
History of the Western lady Ferry Service
- S.A.Armstrong - unknown publisher
Trip Out Guides
-
Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2007 consulted
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Western Lady III
Jurassic Coast Cruise
Western Lady III
cruise - leaving Swanage Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - leaving Swanage Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - leaving Swanage Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - leaving Swanage Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - view of Swanage
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - sail training ship
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - Lighthouse
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - Lighthouse
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - sail training ship and Condor catamaran
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
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Western Lady III
cruise - sail training ship
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - sail training ship
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Western Lady III
cruise - Dorset Cliffs
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2007
Click to open larger image in new window