Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - 1950 to early 1960's . . .

There was a great deal of affection from children of all ages for the paddle steamers of the Bristol Channel. White Funnels under repair on the pontoon included:-

The P & A Campbell's P.S. “Bristol Queen” on the pontoon in 1957 and 1961. The P & A Campbell paddle steamers “Bristol Queen”, “Cardiff Queen” and “Glen Usk” were maintained upon the pontoon at Penarth. As children, we had day trips on the “White Funnel Fleet” to Bristol, Minehead, Weston-Super-Mare, Ilfracombe, and beyond from Penarth pier.

“Paddle Wheels” magazine [382] reported in its Winter edition of 1961: "When the “Cardiff Queen” was tying up at Penarth on 23rd September, one of the pier staff slipped and fell into the water. The paddles were stopped with commendable promptitude and the man was fished out via the starboard sponson and revived with brandy!"

	1957 – The “Cardiff Queen” on the pontoon.

“Paddle Wheels” [382] edition of Spring 1962 reported that the White Funnel Fleet sailings for 1962 have not yet been published, but the Company announced that the Bristol Channel steamers will again be the two "Queens" with P.S. “Glen Usk” in reserve. As reported widely in the press, the Company have applied for permission to operate Hovercraft in the Bristol Channel. The ports mentioned are Cardiff, Ilfracombe, Swansea and Clevedon.