THE WESTERN LADY FAIRMILE B RML's

Historic World War II Royal Navy Coastal Forces Rescue Motor Launches

Western Lady Photo Album   Links to Other Historic Vessels   10 Minute Video

For over sixty years, the Western Lady Ferry Service has operated the Brixham to Torquay ferry which runs to and fro across Torbay (South Devon, England) from May to October and is used by holiday makers and local residents alike.

The vessels mainly used for this service have been the former World War II Costal Forces Fairmile 'B' Rescue Motor Launches bearing the Western Lady name. These 'little ships' are well known and much loved by those who appreciate their character and heritage.

During it's heyday, the company operated 5 Fairmile B's, Western Lady's I, II, III & IV and River Lady, plus a number of other vessels including another Coastal Forces veteran, former Harbour Defence Motor Launch 'Pride of the Dart'.

Over the years a decline in passenger numbers has resulted in a reduction of the fleet, Western Lady II having been the first of the Fairmiles to go in 1955, followed later by River Lady, various other vessels and latterly Pride of the Dart.

Western Lady I has been laid-up at the owner's yard for many years and her condition must by now be rather dubious.

For many years now the ferry service has been provided by Western Lady III and Western Lady IV supplemented more recently by 2 purpose-built steel-hulled boats.

At the start of the 2006 season, we reached what was for me and for many others a very sad end of an era.

The Western Lady Ferry Service announced that Western Lady III and Western Lady IV had "retired at 60 as all ladies are entitled to do" and the ferry service will from now on be operated solely by the 2 purpose-built boats.

Western Lady's III & IV were put up for sale in the hope of finding sympathetic new owners who would treat them with the respect they deserve and I began a 'Save the Western Ladies' campaign to help raise the profile of their predicament and to act as a focal point for any genuine interest in starting a preservation group.

Since last July, things have moved on somewhat...

Western Lady IV has a very enthusiastic new owner and has now become a private vessel.

Western Lady III also has new owners and is back in passenger service in Dorset.

Western Lady I remains in poor condition and really is beyond help without very substantial expenditure and a miracle or two.

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Latest Updates (July/August 2007) ...

 Western Lady I (RML 535)  

Remains laid-up at her owner's yard in poor condition.

The future seems rather bleak and she is unlikely to survive much longer.

 Western Lady III (RML 497) SAVED!  

She has now been sold and has returned to service as a passenger vessel from a new home in the Swanage area from where she will be cruising the Jurassic Coast under the banner of 'Fairmile Classic Cruises".

Click this Link to visit their website  http://www.fairmileclassiccruises.co.uk/

Click this Link to see an Article from the Dorset Echo (added 9/8/07)

Before departing for Dorset, she embarked on a brief farewell tour of Torbay.

Click this link to see an Article from the Herald Express (24/7/07).

Maybe you were lucky enough to see her in Torbay one last time.

Dave Wellings was and has kindly submitted some photos which you can view by Clicking Here.

Earlier in the year, Western Lady III was briefly featured in the BBC's recent documentary about the St Nazaire raid  which was presented by well-known TV personality Jeremy Clarkson who spent some time filming on board.

 NEW 12/8/07 - Click here to read an extract from the memoirs of Les Parkinson, RML 497's Motor Mechanic (1943-45)

 Western Lady IV (RML 526) SAVED!  

Sold into private ownership to be sympathetically converted as an itinerant live-aboard. Keep your eyes peeled, you may still see here around the South West. Her new owner is committed to keeping her appearance as original as possible.

 Pride of the Dart (HDML 1396)  (Also formerly in the WLFS fleet).

Has a new owner who is an enthusiast. He is currently working hard to restore her to operational condition.

It has come to light that there was once a 'Pride of the Dart II', also an HDML. Although she never joined the WLFS fleet, she seems to have had an interesting history which is currently being researched. More on that soon.

 Western Lady VI & VII (formerly the Torbay Princesses) continue to operate the Western Lady Ferry Service in Torbay.

I don't claim in any way that my actions or this website have directly lead to any of the boats being saved but do I hope that by attempting to raise their profile, they will continue to have a secure future and I would like to wish their respective new owners the best of luck to that end.

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If you would like to share your memories of the Western Lady Fairmile B's, if you have a specific question or if you have any information about the fate of either RML542/Western Lady II or RML511/River Lady/Western Diver, you can Email Me by Clicking Here.

I have now closed the 0845 telephone line that was live during the early days of the 'Save the Western Ladies' campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kind regards, Steve Powell.

[Original content July 2006, updated March - August 2007 to reflect developments].

What this is not ...

This is not and never was an attempt to petition the Western Lady Ferry Service to bring any of their Fairmile B's back into service (recent events would now make this impossible in any case), nor is it a criticism of their decision to withdraw them. They have lovingly cared for them over the years and they still very much care what happens to them from now on so please do not give them a hard time! We should be grateful that they have kept them in such condition that they could be preserved.

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For detailed information of each vessel, please see S. A. Armstrong's excellent book 'The Fair (Few) Miles' which is unfortunately currently out-of-print although an updated edition may be available soon.

Here is a brief resume of the current status:

Western Lady         Formerly RML 535. Laid-up for many years at the owner's yard. Condition dubious.

Western Lady II      Formerly RML 542. Sold in 1955 and converted to a motor yacht. Current whereabouts, name and condition unknown.

Western Lady III     Formerly RML 497. Sold back into commercial ownership Summer 2007. Back in passenger service in Dorset. Condition excellent.

Western Lady IV     Formerly RML 526. Sold into private ownership early 2007. Condition excellent.

River Lady               Formerly RML 511. Sold in 1973 and converted to a diving support vessel 'Western Diver'. Sold again in 1986 to a Dutch company. Current whereabouts, name and condition unknown.

Pride of the Dart      Formerly HDML 1396. Now owned by an enthusiast (Summer 2007) who is working hard to restore her.

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Acknowledgements.

Many thanks to Sandie Armstrong, Christian Sheppard-Capurro, Philip Simons, Ian Boyle and the many others (you know who you are!) who have kindly contributed/debated/disputed/corrected information presented on this site.

Between them, they must have forgotten more than I ever knew.

Special thanks to all at the Western Lady Ferry Service / Torbay Boat Construction Company for tolerating my attempts to 'help'.

Legal.

The opinions and views expressed on this website are those of the author and/or any future contributors.

The webmaster has no commercial connection with either the Western Lady Ferry Service or the Torbay Boat Construction Company Ltd or any other commercial entity mentioned herein.

All images on this website are copyright S Powell (various years) unless otherwise stated. You may download them for your personal enjoyment but if you wish to use them for any other purpose, you must seek permission first.