Fascination with the puffers still continues.

The Vital Spark is a fictional Clyde puffer, created by Neil Munro. As its captain, the redoubtable Para Handy, often says: "the smertest boat in the coastin' tred". Image File history File links Size of this preview: 386 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (411 × 638 pixels, file size: 30 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Donald, Stuart, In the Wake of the Vital Spark, Johnston & Bacon Books Ltd. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 386 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (411 × 638 pixels, file size: 30 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Donald, Stuart, In the Wake of the Vital Spark, Johnston & Bacon Books Ltd. ... The Clyde puffer is essentially a type of small steamboat which provided a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland, stumpy little cargo ships that have achieved almost mythical status thanks largely to the short stories Neil Munro wrote about the Vital Spark and her... Neil Munro (1864 - 1930) was a journalist and author. ... Para Handy (real name Peter MacFarlane) is a fictional character created by Neil Munro in a series of stories published in the Glasgow Evening News. ...

Puffers seem to have been regarded fondly even before Munro began publishing his short stories in the Glasgow Evening News in 1905. This may not be surprising, for these small steamboats were then providing a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland. The charming rascality of the stories went well beyond the reality of a commercial shipping business, but they brought widespread fame. They appeared in the newspaper over 20 years, were collected in book form by 1931, inspired the 1953 film The Maggie, and came out as three popular television series, dating from 1959 to 1995. For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Steamboat (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Hebrides islands in Scotland. ... This article is about the country. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... The Maggie (released in the U.S. as High and Dry) is a 1954 British comedy film. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

The deck of a "puffer".

In her captain's own (islands accented) words, the Vital Spark is "aal hold, with the boiler behind, four men and a derrick, and a watter-butt and a pan loaf in the foc'sle". The way these steam lighters with their steam-powered derricks could offload at any suitable beach or small pier is featured in many Vital Spark stories, and allows amusing escapades in the small west coast communities. The cargoes carried in the hold vary from gravel or coal to furniture to livestock, the crew's quarters in the forecastle are taken as lodgings by holidaymakers or lost children and the steam engine struggles on under the dour care of the engineer McPhail. Tales are recounted of improbably dramatic missions in World War I. Others scoff at her as a coal gaabbert, reflecting the origins of the puffers, but an indignant Para Handy is always ready to defend his boat, proudly comparing her 6 knots speed and her looks with the glamorous Clyde steamers. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 390 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (520 × 800 pixels, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Deck of the Clyde Puffer Eilean Eisdeal (built in Hull in 1944) at the Glasgow River Festival in 2005. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 390 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (520 × 800 pixels, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Deck of the Clyde Puffer Eilean Eisdeal (built in Hull in 1944) at the Glasgow River Festival in 2005. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Henry Bells PS Comet started a rapid expansion of steam services on the Firth of Clyde, and within four years a steamer service was in operation on the inland Loch Lomond, a forerunner of the lake steamers that still grace the Swiss lakes. ...

Eilean Eisdeal dressed as the Vital Spark.

The stories sparked considerable interest in the puffers, and many books explore their now vanished world. When VIC 72, renamed Eilean Eisdeal, ventured from her home at the Inveraray Maritime Museum to visit the Glasgow River Festival in 2005, she proudly bore the name Vital Spark in testimony to her continuing popularity. Now in 2006 she proudly is the Vital Spark of Glasgow having been successfully re-registered. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 416 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (555 × 800 pixels, file size: 38 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Clyde Puffer Eilean Eisdeal (built in Hull in 1944) at the Glasgow River Festival in 2005, showing the name Vital Spark in memory of Para... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 416 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (555 × 800 pixels, file size: 38 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Clyde Puffer Eilean Eisdeal (built in Hull in 1944) at the Glasgow River Festival in 2005, showing the name Vital Spark in memory of Para... Inveraray is a burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, located on the western shore of Loch Fyne near its head, and on the A83 road. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ...

The Argyll brewer Fyne Ales, situated close to Inveraray, where the current boat rests and Neil Munro was born, produces a beer called Vital Spark[1] in tribute to the series. Location Geography Area Ranked 2nd  - Total 6,909 km²  - % Water  ? Admin HQ Lochgilphead ISO 3166-2 GB-AGB ONS code 00QD Demographics Population Ranked 23rd  - Total (2005) 90,870  - Density 13 / km² Scottish Gaelic  - Total () {{{Scottish council Gaelic Speakers}}} Politics Argyll & Bute Council http://www. ... A brewer is someone engaged in the occupation of brewing beverages. ...

A ship dressed as the Vital Spark at Crinan, in Argyll and Bute.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,288 × 1,712 pixels, file size: 791 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took the photograph myself. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,288 × 1,712 pixels, file size: 791 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took the photograph myself. ...

See also

• List of fictional ships

This is a list of fictional ships, waterborne vessels that have been identified by name in works of fiction but do not really exist as such (often a real ship is used as a stage set, but the real name is not used). ...

External links

• Neil Munro
• BBC Scotland - the wireless to the web
• The Vital Spark (TV)
• The Light in the Glens
• The Vital Spark at Inveraray Maritime Museum
• The New Tales of Para HandyThree new adventures for the crew of the Vital Spark, staged and filmed in front of a live audience at The Warehouse Theatre, Lossiemouth, Scotland (available on DVD)

References

• Donald, Stuart, In the Wake of the Vital Spark, Johnston & Bacon Books Ltd. 1994, ISBN 0-7179-4604-5 (ISBN 0-7179-4605-3 paperback)
• McDonald, Dan, The Clyde Puffer, David & Charles (Publishers) ltd. 1977, ISBN 0-7153-7443-5