I have seen your website and all the hard work you are doing to restore this magnificent steam tug. So I thought I would share my childhood memories with you.

My dad was a docker on the Runcorn docks. How this came about I’m not too sure, but he became caretaker of Bridgewater House in 1978.  Part of his duties was to get the house ready for the MSCC functions. I remember as a child (I was 8 at the time) looking through the cellar window over the gardens at the Daniel Adamson sailing up the canal and tooting the steam whistle before mooring at the bottom of the garden where all the company officials would disembark and enter the house.

This is where I used to escape and wonder down for a nosey.  I got talking to the very nice captain who would let me come aboard and he showed me around.  I was fascinated with all the brass and wood panelling that led to the downstairs room, where again there was wall to wall wood.  I also remember the mini bar that was under the staircase leading down. I used to play on the promenade where I would look out of the windows back up the garden to our house.

After this had happened a few times I was allowed to go for a sail up the canal whilst all the guests were being entertained in the “Big House”.  I remember standing in the wheel house next to the captain with the biggest grin on my face.  When we turned round to sail back to the house I was passed the wheel as we went passed Runcorn docks.  Although it was only for about a minute I can still remember this today.  I used to look forward to the summers and the Daniel Adamson and can still hear the whistle.

I visited the boat museum with my wife in 1999 and was gutted to see it in such a state! I am so pleased to hear that you have salvaged the tug and look forward to seeing it restored. I have pictures of the tug in service and I will dig them out and email them to you.

Lee Hough