I worked on the conversion of the ship from Olovaha to Gulf Explorer in the early 1980's. Spent many weeks/months converting the hold into cabins and sprucing up the great cabin and upper cabins and so on. Last time I saw her was in Tauranga Harbour before she was moved to escape the potential bridge entrapment. Often wondered what became of her after NZ waters. Now I know!

Hi again. Great to read so much great feedback from the old days. My memory is not too good, but I do remember Phil as a deckie,Toby (Tony) as Bosun, Claire as hostess,John Rice as Engineer, Doug as Skipper for a while,then Captain Jack,but I forget so many of the other names.I served as a deckie around 88'-89,then joined the sailing vessel Atlantic Clipper doing the same run to Thursday Island, and we would regularly pass each other at sea. Great memories, and lotsa' love to all. I am married and now live in the States, and still have 3 small sailboats that I love to sail.

Unfortunately I'm too young to remember the Queen in her original days, but my mother remembers her vividly - she had two crossings on her whilst travelling between Scilly and Penzance to go to school, and between them she threw up 23 times!

For my own sake I always remember the scaled model of her in the IoS Museum, and as a youngster always confused why the ship didn't look the same as the Scillonian III (until I could read I thought they were one and the same!). Not sure if the model's still there as haven't been in the museum in ages, despite my grandparents living next door to it. Shame on me...

Anyway, great site, and it's a shame about her eventual fate.

Maeve, Caroline(kakadu), if you come back to this site ... Please email me... ronnie161@hotmail.com...

I remember travelling on the old girl, vice Scillonian, a few times between Pz and Scilly and particularly I vividly recall her ability to roll on wet grass! It was strongly rumoured locally that she was originally intended to be somewhat longer but that a section in front of the bridge was omitted for reasons of economy - a rumour undoubtedly engendered by her decidedly odd profile.

A shame to see she's gone at last, but she certainly earned her living one way or another.

my mate phil has just acquired a lifeboat from bear,anybody with history or photos email at the above address pls or phils mob 0408722668

Great site!

I served as master of the "Queen of the Isles" for her delivery voyage from Tauranga (NZ) to Cairns (Qld) in 1987. She was actually renamed "Queen of the Isles" (from "Gilf Explorer") prior to departure from NZ. The bloke who employed me was one Mike Banner Smith, something of a con man. A note in my sight book (record of astronomical observations) for 10/08/87 reads. Passage suspended due to necessity to proceed to Opua (Bay of Islands NZ) for repairs to starboard main engine. The radar had also ceased operating and as we were unable to obtain spares in the time available we proceeded on-passage without an operational radar. The delay at Opua amounted to 1day 9hrs and 48mns. A further note for 15/08/87 reads: At 1803 local time a good landfall was made with High Peak Island bearing 310Deg (T) distant 22.5 mls. All in all a very pleasant crossing.

All the best...Clive

Well Well, how about this site ey I used work on the Queen 20 years ago in 88-89 as a deck hand. Did 1 trip from Cairns to Thurday Island and back, then went on to be in charge of shore maintainence. Yes I was the one responsible for that terrible green pain job above the water line lol. Hugh Ellis was the Captain at the time. What a time that was, made some some good friends along the way including Shirley Sullivan who was in charge of bookings (lost contact with her, if anyone knows where she is please please let me know !!) Michelle was the pursur and Evette in charge of activities and Rob in the galley. I do still have a copy of the promotional video done by a Brisbane company with that hideous catchy song. "I was on a ship, with a friend of mine.......on the queeeen, the queen of the isles" Who remembers that one? So sad to see where she ended up Stay in-touch all.......Chris

I served on the old Queen around the time of Captain Jack, with Toby, and if I recall, we had a little "mutiny", resulting in a brand new captain. John was the engineer back then. Great memories and great people, I eventually went on to be bosun for the SV Atlantis Clipper,in her better days. This site brings back so many memories. Love to all!

I joined the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company in 1952 and retired as the Passenger Manager in 1999. I remember the Queen of the Isles very well and seeing here leave for Tonga