Retiral of Captain Douglas McCormick of the Burns & Laird's vessel "Lion."

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 25th June 1971

Ardrossan town band and a sea cadet guard of honour will turn out on Tuesday when Captain Douglas A. McCormick signs off from the Burns & Laird car ferry "Lion" after half a century at sea.

Friends and colleagues from all parts of the British Isles will travel to Ardrossan to pay tribute to Captain McCormick and wish him well in his retirement.

A special barbecue and reception is being staged in his honour at the terminal buildings, Winton Pier, Ardrossan.

Captain McCormick, aged 65, was born in Ayr and now lives in Dalrymple.
Of his 50 years at sea, Captain McCormick has spent 48 of them with Burns & Laird Line of Glasgow. During that time he has carried more than two million passengers between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Son of a former Burns & Laird master, Captain McCormick first went to sea with William Robertson in May 1921. Eighteen months later he joined Burns & Laird on the S.S. "Turnberry."
He was aboard the passenger ship "Lairdscastle" in September 1940 when it collided with another vessel in thick fog in the Clyde estuary and overturned. About 60 passengers and 40 crew took to the boats and were later picked up by a destroyer and landed at Greenock.

He has been master since 1947 and for the past 14 years has captained passenger ships sailing between Ardrossan and Belfast.
Captain McCormick has many friends in Ireland, made during his calls to Belfast. It was there that he first met his wife, who comes from Downpatrick. They have three daughters and a son, all married.

Friends of Captain McCormick wishing further information about the barbecue should contact Captain Leask, Marine Superintendent, at Burns & Laird Lines' office at Ardrossan.

(See the associated article dated 29th June 1971)

Retiral of Burns & Laird's Captain Douglas McCormick of the "Lion."

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 2nd July 1971

THE CAPTAIN COMES ASHORE

Captain Douglas A. McCormick, who for the past 14 years has captained the Burns & Laird Ardrossan-Belfast ferries, was honoured on Tuesday night by many friends on his retirement.

Captain McCormick has been with Burns & Laird for 48 years and has been a master since 1947.
Describing his service, Mr. Norman Wright, general manager of Burns & Laird said: "Captain McCormick is a great seaman and master who is held in the highest esteem."
"During his time with the company he has commanded all types and classes of vessels. A captain such as Captain McCormick is a jack of all trades and his great character and sense of humour have made him popular with all who know him."

On behalf of the company Mr. Wright presented Captain McCormick with a tool cabinet and tool-set.

Provost Joseph McManus, on behalf of Ardrossan Town Council, said : "I did not know Captain McCormick until he became captain of the "Lion," but I was impressed with his ready smile and competent manner. Ardrossan Harbour has often been criticised, however Captain McCormick has often proved them wrong, taking "Lion" in and out no matter what the weather was like.

GIFTS

Captain McCormick was also honoured by Ardrossan Harbour Company and Mr. J. H. Shields, manager, presented him with a set of six cut crystal glasses.
Mr. J. Campbell, Northern Ireland Trailers (Scot) Ltd., presented him with an inscribed beer tankard, and Mr. Gerry McBride presented him with a lighter on behalf of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Telegrams from the captain and crew of the M.V. "Lion," "Best wishes on your retirement," and one from the captain and oficers of the "Ben My Chree" "Lang may your lum reek and a happy retirement," were read by Mr. Wright.

Captain McCormick acknowledged the gifts and said that probably by the time he was 95 he would be wishing he was back at sea "But I'll just have to keep going."
Captain McCormick then went round to Winton Pier where he boarded the "Ben My Chree" (on loan to Burns & Laird from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company) and officially signed off as captain of "Lion."

TROPHY

Captain McCormick earlier presented a trophy called "The McCormick Cup" which was used in a "Miss Roll-on, Roll-off" beauty contest open to girls from the M.V. "Lion," Containerway, E. Ferguson (Transport) Ltd., Ardrossan Harbour Company and Northern Ireland Trailers (Scotland) Ltd.
Eighteenyear-old Claire Dornan, who is employed by the Harbour Company, won the trophy.

After Captain McCormicks official retirement, a barbecue and dance in his honour was held in the Burns & Laird terminal.

(See article dated 22nd September 1971)

Burns & Laird's "Lion" unable to sail due to engine trouble

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 9th July 1971

Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., have had to readjust their services to Belfast tonight (Friday) because the M.V. Lion is at present out of commission due to engine trouble.
Passengers without cars will travel from Ardrossan on the Manxman, but those with cars will be accommodated by British Rail and will have to sail from Stranraer.
The Saturday sailing has been cancelled.

Mr. Edward Wall, manager at Ardrossan, said : "It has been cancelled at time of speaking but anything could happen."
The reason for the cancellation is that they cannot get a ship, there will be a sailing at 8.30am for passengers and cars.
The Lion is expected to resume service on Tuesday. she is at present unergoing trials and Mr. Wall said : "She could possibly be ready earlier."
The other vessel running a service to Belfast from Ardrossan is the Saaletal.

Burns & Laird utilise "Manxman" to take sailing for broken down "Lion"

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 9th July 1971

Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., have had to readjust their services to Belfast tonight (Friday) because the M.V. Lion is at present out of commission due to engine trouble.
Passengers without cars will travel from Ardrossan on the Manxman, but those with cars will be accommodated by British Rail and will have to sail from Stranraer.
The Saturday sailing has been cancelled.

Mr. Edward Wall, manager at Ardrossan, said : "It has been cancelled at time of speaking but anything could happen."
The reason for the cancellation is that they cannot get a ship, there will be a sailing at 8.30am for passengers and cars.
The Lion is expected to resume service on Tuesday. she is at present unergoing trials and Mr. Wall said : "She could possibly be ready earlier."
The other vessel running a service to Belfast from Ardrossan is the Saaletal.

"Saaletal" still sailing while "Lion" is broken down

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 9th July 1971

Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., have had to readjust their services to Belfast tonight (Friday) because the M.V. Lion is at present out of commission due to engine trouble.
Passengers without cars will travel from Ardrossan on the Manxman, but those with cars will be accommodated by British Rail and will have to sail from Stranraer.
The Saturday sailing has been cancelled.

Mr. Edward Wall, manager at Ardrossan, said : "It has been cancelled at time of speaking but anything could happen."
The reason for the cancellation is that they cannot get a ship, there will be a sailing at 8.30am for passengers and cars.
The Lion is expected to resume service on Tuesday. she is at present unergoing trials and Mr. Wall said : "She could possibly be ready earlier."
The other vessel running a service to Belfast from Ardrossan is the Saaletal.

Police and firemen rescue six boys from Ardrossan Old Dry-Dock

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 16th July 1971

Six boys who went sailing in the old dry dock at Ardrossan Harbour had to be rescued by police and firemen on Sunday afternoon.
Their raft had floated to the middle of the dock

CLAN MACGILLIVRAY closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Red Sea and East African ports

CLAN MACGILLIVRAY closes at Birkenhead for receiving cargo for Red Sea and East African ports

Target date for introduction of metric units for freight chaging

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 23rd July 1971

The Dock and Harbour Authorities Association announced that the target date for the introduction of metric units as the basis of freight charging by UK port authorities is 1st January.
The freight transport industry is co-operating with user representatives in an endeavour to reduce the need for working to a dual system in the transit of goods.

CITY OF NEWCASTLE closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for East African ports

Proposed Super-Shipyard at Hunterston

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 30th July 1971

SUPER-YARD PROPOSED

Two leading Scottish industrialists have recently advocated creating a super shipyard at Hunterston if the proposed multi-million-pound steel complex is given the go-ahead.

This week Mr. Robert Robertson, chairman of the Hutchison Engineering Group, revealed his plans in a national newspaper report.

Earlier Mr Hugh Stenhouse, chairman of Stenhouse Holdings, had put forward this idea in a Face-to-Face interview on STV.

Both suggested the super yard as an alternative to continued building on the upper reaches of the river.

CITY OF NEWCASTLE closes at Birkenhead for receiving cargo for East African ports

Grab Dredger SIR WILLIAM H RAEBURN starts digging at Berth 16 Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, Glasgow

Robert Dickens writes -
She was the largest ship owned by the company, and made her final sailing , Ardrossan to Douglas, on 15th August 1971.
She left Douglas for Barrow and docking on 17th August.
Sold 14th December 1971 to Arnott Young & Co., Dalmuir, near Glasgow.
Left Barrow 29th December 1971 in tow of the Clyde tug "Wrestler" arriving in the Clyde 31st December 1971.

Last trip for "Lady of Mann"

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 20th August 1971

LAST TRIP FOR OLD SHIP

"Lady of Mann," the oldest and largest ship in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's fleet, bade farewell to Ardrossan Harbour on Sunday after completing her last crossing from the island.
She is now to be broken up.

Built at Barrow by Vickers Armstrong, "Lady of Mann" was launched in March 1930, the centenary year of the shipping company. She had a passenger capacity of 2,870 and a speed of 23 knots.

The ship, which was used as a troopship during the war, was the only vessel to have borne her name - the other ships names used by the company have been given to successive vessels ; there have been at least four steamers each called Ben-my-Chree, King Orry, Tynwald and others.

"Lady of Mann" was a smart, rakish-looking ship which has been a popular summer visitor to Ardrossan for 40 years.