Largs hovercraft's 11 minute journey to Millport!

The report stated: “The Hovercraft carries 65 passengers in seats similar to those in an aeroplane and it has a stop speed of 35 knots. Unlike the earlier hovercraft tried out on the Clyde, the new model makes no great noise. Its propellers are in the water at the stern, The earlier hovercraft had propellers on the super structure. The loud noise caused was one of the principal objections to it.

“The new craft cannot come onto the beach like the earlier craft, but sits at the pier, like an ordinary motor launch. Captain J.Sinclair, marine superintendent of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, said at Largs that the hovercraft trials were proving very satisfactory.

“Steps are being cut out of the south side of Largs Pier to allow boarding and disembarking of passengers and steps at Millport Pier have been adapted and repaired for the new service.” And it had a huge novelty value as over 2000 used the service in its first four days. THere was a regular daily service between Largs and Millport and also an afternoon trip round Cumbrae. The single fare on the Largs-Millport run was 6s (30p) and Round Cumbrae 12s (60p).

Commenting on the service. Provost Alex Caldwell, MIllport, said the Scottish Transport Group were criticised on occasion but this time they deserved a pat on the back. “The service,” he added, “has great potential for getting people over here quickly, as commuters, or when industrial development on the coast gets going.

“The hovercraft carried 60 passengers and has a service speed of 30 knots. The trip to Millport takes 11 minutes. The hovercraft is built by Hovermarine Transport Limited at Southampton.” * One of the powerhouse figures behind the success of the Moorings restaurant and ballroom, Cosimo Castelvecchi, died suddenly at 50 years of age in August 1969.

Mr Castelvecchi was in the Minstrel restaurant in Aitken Street, Largs, shortly before 11am on the 29th, when he took a seizure and collapsed.

His wife Sandrina, was on holiday in Barga, where their elder daughter Nadia (Mrs Clarici), was expecting her first baby.

With her younger children, Patrizia, (16) and Massimo (5), Mrs Castelvecchi had gone to Barga for the birth, it was reported.

The ‘News’ reported: “Mr Cosimo Castelvecchi was the youngest of three brothers who inherited the prosperous business founded at the pierhead by their father, Leo, at the beginning of the 20th century. Cosimo was born in Barga and came to this country at an early age. He was educated at St Colomba’s College, Largs, and at St Jospeh’s College, Dumfries.

“With his brothers Corrado and Leo, he took his part in the development of the business, which had been natured with such industry and enterprise by their father.

“Since the Second World War, the firm opened the Lugano Bar, the Harlequin Restaurant and the Minstrel Restaurant.

“Mr Castelvecchi’s tragic and untimely death was learned with sadness by the Italian community within Largs, and by Scottish friends within the town. In the absence of a senior member of the Castelvecchi family, Mr Augusto Nardini of Messrs P.Nardini & Sons attended to the immediate arrangements and contacted members of the family in Italy.

“Mr Leo Castelvecchi came to Largs on the following day.” A Requiem Mass was held at St Mary’s Church, The Provost, Mr William Donald, and other local dignitaries were present at the funeral. His body was taken by air on the following morning to Rom and the cortege went by audo-strada to Barga, where the remains were taken to the local church,.

A Requiem Mass was held on Wednesday morning and funeral took place in the afternoon at the family vault, where Mr Castelvecchi’s father and mother and other members of the family had been interred.

* In October 1970, Provost William Donald unveiled a plaque in the memory of Lord Kelvin at Netherhall - the former home of the great scientist - at a special ceremony. Eleven scientific bodies subscribed to the project - and Mr K.J.McConnell. chairman of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Scottish section, said: “Although he lived and died in this house nearly 63 years ago, there has been until now no plaque to symbolise his residence. Fortunately, a member of the IEE, who was a guest at Netherhall some time ago, noticed this omission and suggested to the institution that something was done.” Because Lord Kelvin had been president and honorary member of a number of learned societies and institutions the suggestion was passed to the Royal Society of London.

Mr McConnell told the gathering of Lord Kelvin’s career.

The famous scientist was born William Thomson. He matriculated at Glasgow University at 11 years old. After six years he moved to Cambridge where he graduated when he was 21. The following year he was appointed professor of natural philosophy at Glasgow University.

“His outstanding achievement in the fields of mathematics and thermo-dynamics was sufficient to guarantee his reputation for posterity but to electrical engineers he may be best remembered for his work on the first Atlantic cable in particular. In recognition of this work, he became Sir William Thomson in 1858,” said Mr McConnell.

Another plaque was erected at the request of the Netherhall directors who were mindful of the use of the house as a Christian guest house and of Lord Kelvin’s well-known adherence to the Christian faith.

He continued: “Kelvin had the ability to harmonise his Christian beliefs with his scientific discoveries and this philosophy is exemplified by his statement that ‘Man’s noblest privilege is his power of investigating the laws established by the Creator in Whom we live and move and have our being,” said Mr McConnell. This was the inscription on the plaque.

Provost Donald spoke of Kelvin’s great achievements and honours bestowed on him during his work.

“Kelvin was very fond of sailing,” said the Provost, “and must often have cruised between here and Gareloch where he wintered his yacht Latta Rookh.”