The paddle steamer Waverley is the last sea going paddle steamer in the world. The Waverley was launched on 2 October 1946 and commenced her first passenger sailing on 16 June the following year replacing her namesake who was lost whilst assisting in the Dunkirk evacuations of 1940.

The new Waverley achieved 18.5 knots on her trials and was originally a coal burner, but she was converted in 1957 to run on heavy fuel oil. She was originally built for the cruise up Loch Goil and Loch Long, which was part of a "Three Lochs Tour", which included a trip on one of the Loch Lomond steamers, but now sees the full circumnavigation of Britain. By 1973 Waverley was the sole survivor of a once considerable paddle fleet. That year her operators, the Scottish Transport Group, decided that she was no longer a viable concern with innumerable mechanical issues and put her up for disposal.

She was purchased in 1974 by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for a token £1 note. Due to their enterprise and foresight she now has a full sailing programme every year. With support from the members of the Society and the Heritage Lottery Fund she has been extensively overhauled, reboilered and restored as closely as possible to her original condition.

Relaunched through a barrage of fireworks reflected in her wake in 2003, the Waverley returning to its Glasgow berth demanded commemoration.

Your purchase will provide unrestricted financial resources to endow the acquisition fund for the National Museum of Scotland.