years of history FLOWERS WAR In the early days, the launch of As well as serving islanders, 100 years of serving Scillonian was a great asset to the ‘Scillonian’ carried large numbers of islands’ flower exports, allowing regular land, sea and air servicemen to and passage to the mainland for onward from Scilly. Remarkably, Scillonian the Isles of Scilly transport to meet flower markets. maintained a near-perfect sailing record throughout the war. By the 1950s, Scilly’s flower trade had flourished, flowers were loaded Between 1939 and 1945 Captain overnight and every bit of undercover Reseigh and his crew completed In 1920, the people of the Isles of Scilly came space aboard Scillonian was filled. 1,552 crossings. Scillonian survived together to form a company to deliver a reliable Skybus, provided another fast route to the war without serious damage transport link to the mainland. We are that company. transport flowers from Scilly. and no loss of life.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company was The inter-island post boat named The ship’s master, Captain Reseigh, dated 26th March 1920, and that of the right of the The first purpose built ‘Scillonian’, launched in 1926. ‘Swift Lady’ was added to the fleet in and Chief Engineer, Mr A Nicholls, Powered by steam, she could carry 165 tons of cargo and 390 passengers. 2000, to supplement the islands freight were both awarded the MBE Company to commence business, is dated 27th April vessel and support the flower trade. by King George VI. 1920. Our first ship was an ex-Royal Navy ship renamed ‘Penninis’. In 1925, plans were drawn up for a purpose-built ship for the islands. There was much discussion over what she should be named, but a unanimous vote was carried at the annual general meeting and she was named, ‘Scillonian’. PEOPLE Today, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group is a little Since inception in 1920, bigger. As well as transporting passengers, we deliver the people behind the Isles of Scilly luggage and carry freight. We operate planes and ships. Steamship Group are what made We run an airport and a Dry Dock. But our aim it what it is today. is always the same: to deliver for Scilly. With descendants of the founding
Daphne Chudleigh Captain Reseigh directors, devotedly serving the In 2020, we, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group company today and frontline workers celebrate 100 years of history. going above and beyond to fulfil their duty to the islands; engineers keeping ships and planes in top condition, office staff busily working behind the scenes and captains proudly commanding their vessels.
The foundation of any successful company is the team behind it.
Fred Ward Marcia Still 1919 Scillonian I 15th May 1919 A public meeting at the Town Hall on St. Mary’s considers if it’s possible to maintain or arrange for a Steamship 2013 service between the islands and the We built a completely new mainland. Some 95 people attend 1956 terminal at Land’s End Airport. and they vote for Mr FR Ward as Chair. 2009 Scillonian starts to show her age and In 2014 we invested a further becomes slower as the company struggles After many years of having our ships £2.6 million, surfacing the grass 2017 22nd November 1919 years of history to find coal stokers. So, in 1952 we order maintained by the former Holman’s runways and adding new drainage Mr JC Rogers proposes forming a limited We celebrate 40 years a replacement ship, ‘Scillonian (II)’, f Dry Dock in Penzance, we took over its and lighting to improve reliability liability company with a nominal capital 1984 of faithful service from rom Messrs Thornycroft at Woolston, lease. Penzance Dry Dock is the oldest and comfort. of £25,000. This would be funded Scillonian III, our longest 1926 1932 Southampton. She’s launched in November We took our first step into air travel and in Europe and means we have the by selling shares at five shillings each serving ship to date. 15th, 1956 and sails faithfully for 25 years. developed the Skybus airline as a faster way to engineering facilities and expertise to 2019 – with a limit of £5,000 for any one ‘Scillonian’ makes her In our early days we also ran transport passenger and freight to the islands. look after our own ships – and others too. shareholder. Mr Jeffery seconds We welcome our first official voyage on launch boats, carrying islanders By 1987 this expanded to offer scheduled the idea, and it’s agreed unanimously. 4.5 millionth ferry 2nd February 1926. and freight to St. Martin’s, and commercial flights. Today, Skybus has Soon she’s ready for St. Agnes, Bryher and Tresco. passenger aboard 1938 a larger fleet and offers regular flights to 2011 Scillonian III. service, and passengers The return fare to St. Mary’s is 1965 and from the Isles of Scilly from Land’s Our expanding are stepping aboard to one shilling and school children End, Newquay and Exeter airports. We add Nike discover the islands. travelled for free. We buy a formal company needs We commission a new passenger Engineering Royal Navy trot boat and rename a new home and and cargo ship, ‘Queen of the Isles,’ at Porthmellon to her ‘Nor-Nor’. Nor-Nor and her the Duchy of to add to our Scillonian service. our range of marine companion ‘Gugh’ were frequently Cornwall offers Launched on November 16th and mechanical chartered in cases of medical a site in Hugh Street. 1965, she runs for five years until engineering services. emergency for the conveyance We still use the a decline in the tourism industry The site continues
of patients to Penzance hospital. same office today. means it’s time for her to move on. to run until 2018.
1920 1925 1958 1975 1989 2018 2020
27th April 1920 To follow Peninnis, we ordered the The crest which can still be We ordered our third Scillonian In 1987 Scillonian III has a well-earned rest from We launched a new service The Isles of Scilly Certificates proving the first of our purpose-built Scillonian seen on Scillonian’s bow is ferry. ‘RMV Scillonian III’ carries service – her first ever – and a coaster is chartered at Land’s End Airport: Steamship Group company’s incorporation passenger ferries from the Ailsa designed by Mr RW Gillard up to 485 passengers to and from to carry freight. Then in 1989 we purchased the an AW169 helicopter flying celebrates 100 years and right to start business Shipbuilding Company in Scotland. from Penzance. It’s a shield, the Isles of Scilly. She is powered Norwegian freight ship ‘Gry Maritha’ so we could into St. Mary’s Airport. of service, providing are laid out on the meeting made of cast brass and by diesel and has two on-board provide the islands with a year round cargo service. Island Helicopters was essential transport table, along with a list of A grand, steam-powered vessel, divided into four panels. cafes to choose from. The new ship operated by Gloucester- links for both shareholders. The official Scillonian can carry 165 tons of cargo is built in Appledore, North Devon, To support this service, we added an inter-island based Specialist Aviation passengers and date on the incorporation and 390 passengers. She cuts the Company House Shield and is launched on May 17, 1977. freight vessel, ‘Lyonesse Lady’, and a small post Services, but the service freight between the certificate is 26th March journey from Penzance to the Isles The upper left panel shows the steamer boat called ‘Swift Lady’. In 1991, Scillonian III 2015 ceased in November 2018 Isles of Scilly and 1920 and we begin trading of Scilly to a little over three hours. coming into St. Mary’s; the upper starts evening coastal trips up the River Fal Island Carriers, which provides haulage due to lack of demand. the mainland. from 27th April. right-hand is a scroll, inscribed with and around Penzance. and courier services on St. Mary’s, the initial letters of the Company – joins our company to provide a seamless 22nd July 1920 ISSSCo. The bottom left is a sheaf of cargo service from door to door. After careful consideration, Soleil d’Or narcissi; the final panel shows our new company chooses the outline of the five inhabited islands. 2015 saw the launch of our Community its first directors. Fund. This supports not-for-profit projects Peninnis benefiting the communities of the Isles We bought a Royal Navy of Scilly and West Cornwall, with grants of steam cruiser called up to £10,000. So far, the fund has donated ‘HMS Argus’ and rename a total of £82,214 to 53 good causes. her ‘RMS Peninnis’. A former coastguard ship, During this year we purchased a larger she carries passengers to and freight ship ‘Mali Rose’ as the first step in a from the islands for six years, strategy to renew all our vessels. Following before costly repairs mean extensive trials we decided that she wasn’t it’s time for her to retire. fit for the route and the vessel was sold. years of history
SteamshipISLES OF SCILLY GROUP
Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Hugh Town St. Mary’s Isles of Scilly TR21 0LJ islesofscilly-travel.co.uk