The Invergordon Archive
No: 869 Contributor: Bill Geddes Year: 2004
The Puffer VIC 56
On picture #345 , John Maclaren has made an enquiry about the whereabouts of the Puffer VIC 56, and here she is!
I took this shot from the South bank of the Thames somewhere between Canary Wharf and the Woolwich Ferry in September 2004. I had no idea at the time that this old boat had an Invergordon connection but how wonderfull to find out! I will try to locate the site more precisley and let the site administrator know. I was very surprised to see the boat here. The only other one I am aware of is located on the Crinan Canal.
Picture added on 27 March 2006
Puffer VIC 56 is nowadays berthed at Chatham in the Medway River. She can be visited there and even has her own website! (www.vic56.co.uk/). However, there is no mention of Invergordon in the history section of this site; perhaps someone can enlighten us?
Added by Bill Geddes on 30 March 2006
The location of the VIC56 is Trinity Buoy Wharf, Poplar. The site was owned and operated by Trinity House and much information can be found on line. Apart from growing up in Poplar I have known the owner Henry Cleary since 1978 when we met on the VIC 32. The puffer you mention based in Crinan. At the age of 23 I was the Chief Engineer for a delivery voyage of the VIC 32 from London to the West Coast and finally left her in Crinan after a two month "adventure"
Added by George Rollinson on 24 April 2020
The Sea
