Captain Robin White and past crew members of the Stena Galloway, formerly the Galloway Princess ferry, which made the daily ferry crossing between Stranraer to Larne for over two decades, joined representative of Dumfries & Galloway Council at a special ceremony held at Stranraer Museum today (Wed 19th Oct).
To mark the special link between the vessel and the town of Stranraer over many years, Stranraer Museum kindly agreed to put on permanent display the nameplate of a British Rail locomotive name in honour of the Stena Galloway, as a lasting reminder of the special bond that existed between the ship and the town and people of Stranraer.
The British Rail engine was built in Crew and entered service in 1965 as Engine D1973. The locomotive engine spent most of its working life based in Scotland located at either Inverness or Eastfield in Glasgow. The locomotive engine was called the Galloway Princess, named in honour of the ferry, which was built in Harland & Wolff (Belfast) in 1980. The locomotive engine was named by John Brewis, Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown District, Hamish Ross, former Port Manger (Stranraer) and Councillor WN Brawn, Lord Lieutenant of County Down on 16th September 1983 at Stranraer Station.
Captain Robin White, former Master of the Stena Galloway presided over the dedication ceremony from Stena Line alongside Councillor Marion McCutcheon from Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Captain White said; “It’s a great honour for all of us who served on the ship to attend today’s event to mark a very special link that existed between a much loved vessel and the town and people of Stranraer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ann Ramsbottom and her colleagues at Stranraer Museum along with Dumfries & Galloway Council for facilitating such a generous recognition of the contribution the Stena Galloway and her crew made to the life of the town over many years.
Cpt White added: “Sadly a few of our colleagues are no longer with us but it was great to see a number of familiar faces from our time together on the Stena Galloway and share some great yarns about the good old days, a very special day for all those involved.”
Councillor Marion McCutcheon, Chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Wigtown Area Committee said: “The Stena Galloway is an important part of Stranraer’s history and it is wonderful that we now have the plate in place in the museum to remember the Stena Galloway. It was wonderful to see so a number of familiar faces here at the unveiling, sharing tales of what the Stena Galloway meant to them. The plate will add to what is already a wonderfully established museum here in Stranraer.”
-ends
Issued on behalf of Stena Line
Date: 19th Oct 2016
PR (Stena): Stranraer Museum Recognises Stena Galloway Community Contribution
By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
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