July is also celebration time on another waterfront thanks to Clyde shipbuilding.
In  the little town of Douglas/Saugatuck in Michigan a Govan built boat will be re-christened at its lakeside mooring to mark its 100th birthday.

The majestic 350 foot SS Keewatin was built at Fairfield as a passenger and freight steamship for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It serviced the Canadian waters on Lake Superior for 57 years until 1965 and was destined for scrap till Diane and RJ Peterson purchased the vessel and had it restored to its former Edwardian glory. It is now operated as the Keewatin Maritime Museum.

Keewatin is the local tribal name for the north wind and was the former name of a large area of Canada around Hudson Bay.

Bob and Cindy Zimmerman who have published a book on the ship are excited about the centenary celebrations. ‘The entire year is a CELEBRATION of the life of the Keewatin. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate with us. The Keewatin is a great credit to the designers and builders of the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Works Ltd!’ said Cindy. She added, ‘My husband and I spent time in Glasgow doing the research for the book which was published in 2002. There is a copy of our book at the Mitchell Library.’

Among the questions they are keen to get answers to are: How often were the indicators used and where and how were they attached to the cylinders? ‘We’d also like help to understand the governor, its type and location,’ said Cindy.

If any reader has that information please contact the LOCAL NEWS on telephone 0141 226 4898 or email:localnews@btconnect.com or go to the Keewatin’s own website:www.keewatinmaritimemuseum.com.