It was with great regret and sadnesss that we heard that one of the Clyde's most well-known characters, Mr Ian Muir, had passed on. An engineer who possessed great wit and passion for the Clyde, he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him.

As a boy of 15 I can recall seeing Ian at the controls of the WAVERLEY's engines and to me he seemed such a great character of a man, even though I never once spoke with him. When I read the book he wrote "Dinosaur Down Below" I was even more impressed by his breadth of knowledge, his wonderful writing style and his off-hand manner of describing his own passion for the WAVERLEY.

This is how he describes his first meeting at Waverley Steam Navigation's office, and is a wonderful piece of descriptive prose:

"GONG." Went the great grab as it bounced off the hatch coaming of the Greek bulk-carrier across the river, then dropped rapidly downwards for another bite at her cargo.

She flinched not an inch.

"How did I get in this mess," I thought "typical.'"

After working ashore for 15 years during which time I had not seemed to get anywhere fast I now had a job in which I felt secure and reasonably happy, even if it meant that much of my time was spent away from home. Now here was someone offering me something else, and much nearer home. But did I need it?

"Can you start right away?" the voice persisted.

In January 1975, fed up with my lot, and noting how some of my friends had made good by returning to seafaring, I had gained the appointment as Chief Engineer on one of the vessels engaged in sea-bed survey work in connection with the North Sea oil fields. Such a post proved to be no sinecure and, after a year's service there which I reckoned probably reduced my life expectancy by a decade or so, I had obtained the post I then held, that of Chief Engineer of the Glasgow owned motor coaster SAINT WILLIAM.

Now. home on leave from that ship. I had had three weeks out of the four off which I was due. Believing that I had probably cut enough grass and redecorated internally to a degree adequate to ensure that what a friend once referred to as "Extra Muiral" activities would escape domestic censure, I had flung a boilersuit in the boot of the car and come down to find out what this WAVERLEY preservation performance was all about. I had seen the news of her withdrawal by Caledonian MacBrayne and subsequent pheonix-like rebirth under the preservationist's banner reported in the press, but being involved in other things at the time had done nothing practical to assist till now. I knew none of the personalities involved.

I had thus met her Captain just two hours since and now, after having done some minor work on her machinery, here he was attempting to recruit me into the Company's service.

'Look, Skipper," I said, I didn't come here seeking employment, I just came along to volunteer my help for a couple of days in any way that's useful. I've got a job which I quite enjoy, and I'm well enough paid. Do I need to change to something whose long-term future is uncertain to say the least?"

"Well you've got the steam experience we need" he countered.

"Sure, it WOULD be great to work with steam machinery again, it was what I was trained to do but I'm moving nowhere for less money than I'm getting now. "

He pursed his lips, silent.

"And how the Hell can I start right away? I'm due back on my ship in under a week. What am I supposed to say to my Superintendent?"

"Well think about it I'll phone you in a couple of days,"

"Dear God! I said. "Aye, all right."

Two haggling sessions later I had agreed to launch myself into the unknown, and to start work aboard on 5 December 1976.

Ken Blacklock, who had been the hard-pressed Second Engineer in the 1975 season had earlier agreed to return as Chief, but owing to his current contract could not return from overseas service until the Spring. I was to get the show on the road meantime. When the ship started sailing, maybe, just maybe, a Second Engineer would be engaged, and I would then work as Relief Chief to Ken Blacklock.

The die was cast.

Ian Muir
Died Monday 9th May 2005