MORE than 100 people turned out to East Cowes Town Hall recently to see the fundraising and awareness presentation about the good ship Waverley, the last seagoing paddle streamer in the world.

In the 1970s she was rescued for just £1 by a charity, and keeping her going, and mechanically sound, has been an ongoing challenge.

But the Waverley Steam Navigation Charity has, and the sight of Waverley, and going on board and sailing on her is something special – a trip built on nostalgia.

Felicity Fair Thompson attended the talk. She said: "I spent a superb day on board in 1997 filming as PS Waverley bade farewell to SS Canberra as the old ship sailed out of Southampton and along the Solent on her final cruise.

"And the end of Canberra meant that Waverley is the last ocean-going steam vessel in the world. It was amazing to film the mighty steam engines, and hear the beat-beat rhythm of the paddles turning."

Keeping Waverley seaworthy is a huge undertaking.

While her sailings and on-board events can earn money to keep her going in summer, just the winter refit, survey, and drydocking costs are in excess of £400,000 annually.

The event in East Cowes was such a success that extra chairs had to be found.

It was an afternoon celebration to encourage those who love to see the Waverley sailing around the Isle of Wight to become Friends of Waverley and donate towards keeping her seaworthy.

Waverley will be back in the Solent sailing from Shoreham to Ryde on three occasions in September. More information is at www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk