John Watson OBEJohn Watson OBE
  • About John
  • A Lifetime In Printing
  • History
  • Giving Something Back
  • Gallery
  • News

FOUNDATION’S HELPING HAND FOR TS QUEEN MARY

6th July 2020jwatson

Financial assistance sees iconic Clyde steamer through coronavirus crisis

ICONIC Clyde steamer TS Queen Mary has been given a boost to help it survive the coronavirus crisis.

The famous ship – currently being restored at Glasgow’s Pacific Quay in Govan – has received a “substantial donation” to combat the devastating effects of the health emergency.

Cash help from The Watson Foundation will replace money lost through cancelled tours of the ship, the charity “TS Friends of Queen Mary” has disclosed.

The public tours ground to a halt at the start of the lockdown –  wiping out a vital income stream which helps pay for the ongoing restoration of the renowned vessel.

The Watson Foundation was created by philanthropist and businessman John Watson OBE following his retirement from the eponymous world-renowned and Glasgow-based printing dynasty John Watson and Company.

The Foundation has been an ongoing contributor to the restoration work of the ship which carried tens of thousands of Glaswegians “doon the watter” during its many years of service. Once completed, it will be permanently berthed at Govan.

Previous donations from The Watson Foundation have included funding to restore TS Queen Mary’s magnificent teak decks and for window repairs in what is a colossal restoration task to bring the ship back to her former glory.

The donation ensures that TS Friends of Queen Mary – tasked with the restoration due to be complete in 2021 – can meet ALL of the ongoing costs which would normally be covered by revenue from the cancelled monthly tours.

These include berthing fees and also the “very significant cost” of insuring the vessel.

Iain Sim, Chairman of TS Friends of Queen Mary, said: “John Watson OBE has been a very generous patron of TS Queen Mary since she returned to Glasgow. I am delighted that The Watson Foundation has made this substantial gift. It is especially important since all of the charity’s capital is committed to delivering the detailed design phase of the restoration project”.

John Watson OBE said: “The restoration of this magnificent ship will bring huge benefits to the City of Glasgow and the Govan community where it is berthed both in terms of education and heritage. It is essential that this goal is reached and The Watson Foundation is pleased to be helping to make this happen.”

Crawford Paterson Vice Chairman of TS Friends of Queen Mary said: “The challenge which covid-19 has presented to all charities has been monumental. We do not receive any public funding and rely entirely on donations to fund our revenue costs. The substantial reduction of that revenue due to the cancellation of our monthly tours would have had a very negative impact on our project, were it not for the quite wonderful generosity of The Watson Foundation”.

Last year it was revealed that HRH The Princess Royal had become Royal Patron of the ship.

Previous post SOCIAL BITE IN THE SWIM AT ICONIC GLASGOW BATHS Next post HERALD MEMORIAL GARDEN CAMPAIGN GIVEN A £10,000 BOOST

Archives

  • April 2025 (1)
  • December 2024 (1)
  • October 2024 (1)
  • June 2024 (1)
  • December 2023 (1)
  • November 2023 (1)
  • September 2023 (1)
  • August 2023 (1)
  • April 2023 (1)
  • October 2022 (1)
  • June 2022 (2)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • April 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • November 2021 (1)
  • September 2021 (1)
  • June 2021 (1)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • October 2018 (1)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (2)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • November 2015 (2)
  • About John
  • A Lifetime In Printing
  • History
  • Giving Something Back
  • Gallery
  • News
© 2023 John Watson OBE. All rights reserved. Site by SDS