8 . Glasgow Business June 2016


Fast-flowing chat


Paisley bids to be 2021 city of culture


Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and a select ‘crew’ of Chamber members on a fact-finding mission ‘doon the watter’


» Members reconnect with Clyde on a historic ‘puffer’ I


t is difficult to imagine that the Clyde was once the busiest commercial river in Britain aſter the Tames.


Today, it has only a few pockets of ship-building industry along its once-crowded shoreline. In the river’s heyday, the Clyde


Puffer – epitomised in the stories of Para Handy, the Gaelic skipper of the Vital Spark – was a familiar sight. Now, it’s rare to see such a floating workhorse. So the historic VIC32 – now


over 70 years old – was the ideal vessel for Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Deputy Chief Executive Richard Muir and a select ‘crew’ of Chamber members to go on a fact-finding mission ‘doon the water’. VIC32 was built by Dunston’s


of Torne, Yorkshire, in 1943 to meet the Admiralty’s demand for smaller supply boats. Te Clyde Puffer was viewed as the perfect sea-going craſt. It is believed that


VIC32 worked out of Corpach, near Fort William, Scapa Flow in Orkney and Rosyth during the Second World War and had a history – and crew – as colourful as the fictional Vital Spark. She was due to be scrapped in the 1960s and was saved by Keith Schellenberg, who went on to buy the island of Eigg. “VIC32 was the ideal vessel


to give us the atmosphere for our day-trip,” says Richard. “It was a thought-provoking day out of the office and the chance to see close-up how the Clyde has changed.” Te conversations ranged from


how Glasgow can reconnect with its river and the challenges and opportunities to develop the Clyde once again. “We’ve had various false starts


over the years and there are reasons why the upper Clyde isn’t used commercially these days – including the issues of dredging


and the new bridges – but this is a spectacular waterfront and there have to be opportunities to use this natural resource.’’ However, the Clyde is


fast-flowing and gaining access at key points along the shore is not easy. Discussions were also about what kind of infrastructure would be needed to rekindle the Clyde. Nick and Rachel Walker


bought the puffer in 1975 and have operated the boat since then, with its base at Crinan, at the western end of the Crinan canal. However, the puffer requires funds to keep afloat, so the Walkers set up a charitable trust to ensure its future. VIC32 carried her 5,000th holiday passenger in September 2015 and continues her summer programme of holiday cruises. Revenues from the holiday cruises help to fund the ongoing programme of hull renewals, but the trust is still reliant upon donations and sponsorship.


Paisley has designs on becoming the UK City of Culture in 2021. The UK City of Culture competition, awarded every four years, is run and awarded by the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Previous winners include Derry-Londonderry (2013) and Hull (2017). Paisley will present its unique heritage in weaving and its role in the global textiles story, including the international growth of Coats Paton. The bidding team are encouraging Paisley folks to wear the Paisley Pattern, popularised by the town’s weavers and recognised around the world. Paisley has the highest


concentration of listed buildings in Scotland outside of Edinburgh, including the 850-year-old Paisley Abbey and the Coats Observatory, while Paisley Museum, which is due to be transformed in a £57 million project, has a unique collection described as internationally significant.


The bid will be supported


by the University of the West of Scotland and PACE Youth Theatre Company, whose past pupils include Paolo Nutini and James McAvoy. Paisley can expect plenty


of support from Glasgow, its larger neighbour. “We wish Paisley well in its


bid to become the UK City of Culture 2021. It is a real badge of honour and it would sit well on a world-famous Paisley shawl,’’ says Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.


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