THE last ferry was late and I wasn’t even sure if it would be worth the wait, writes Jeremy Burrows.

MV Saturn was due at Gourock Pier at 9.08pm – the last time a vehicle ferry would arrive at Gourock from Dunoon after nearly 60 years of service. Inverclyde Now was there to see what happened but the initial signs weren’t good.

For a start, the boat wasn’t on time – I suppose that’s fair enough; no one’s really going to complain about the last ever ferry being late. But while I waited, the sun was replaced by showery rain. This lent a bleak aspect to the pier on another poignant day for the Clyde.

I walked along the terminal access road, running the gauntlet of anglers and managing to avoid being snagged by any of the backward swings as they cast their lines. A seal vying for the fish was watching from nearby.

At the ferry terminal a few people with cameras waited patiently for Saturn. A member of staff was being given advice by a friend on how to improve his chances of getting a job. I was starting to feel this wasn’t going to be much of an event and that I had misread the timetable.

Then the distinctive drone of the ferry was heard from behind the station and Saturn came rapidly into view, packed with those who decided not to miss the last chance to ride one of these vessels which have become fondly appreciated during decades of service. Among those aboard were many past and present CalMac employees and ferry enthusiasts.

As the boat came closer, I could hear someone on the loudspeaker system and strained my ears in case the announcer was imparting some valuable information (not just ‘It’s time to go to your cars’.) Then I realised I was listening to the unmistakable voice of official CalMac historian Ian McCrorie – reading out winning raffle tickets.

Things had cheered up considerably – the death of a Clyde ferry service appeared to have been marked with a fairly jolly wake. The whole of Gourock soon knew about it as the ship’s horn was sounded at top volume. As the last cars drove off, many hooted their horns.

Ian McCrorie had the last word – announcing that he had won one of the raffle prizes – the Finlaggan bag – and that, to avoid accusations of corruption, another ticket would be drawn.

Saturn shifted along the pier and ‘parked’ behind small passenger-only vessel Ali Cat which headed out this morning in her place.

[CalMac allowed the Clyde River Steamer Club to organise a raffle on the last journey with takings to be given to the Waverley steamer. First prize was a certificate signed by CalMac managing director Phil Preston to say that the winner was last passenger off the Saturn. Just under £300 was raised. Mr Preston also shook the hand of each disembarking passenger.]

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