Polmadie to Lake Malawi
In May 2009, a 111 year old ship, built in Glasgow, Scotland, was drydocked on the shores of Lake Malawi in Central Africa, at the start of an ambitious project to restore the vessel to active service and convert it into a floating medical centre. This gallery briefly relates the story of the SS Chauncy Maples from her creation in one of the most unusual of the many shipyards of Victorian Clydeside to the present day. It is hoped that the ship, converted to run on bio-fuel, will soon be able to bring much needed medical assistance in an area where land travel is difficult and the average life expectancy of the native people is only around 36 years.
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In 1903, Alley & MacLellan took over the Shropshire company, Simpson & Bibby, who made steam lorries, and moved the business to Polmadie. After two years development work under Alley & MacLellan's Chief Draughtsman, Mr J Haythorne, the Sentinel Steam Wagon was launched. The Sentinel brand already had a good reputation, and the new lorry was a great success.
Picture shows an early Sentinel steam wagon supplied to the Prestonpans Soap Works
©Scottish Motor Museum Trust. Licensor http://www.scran.ac.uk.
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