Birthday celebrations for grand old lady of the seas celebrates her 65th birthday

He went on to own her and with co-owner Roy Simpson, this year celebrates 30 years of ownership – and today the pleasure cruiser’s 65th birthday.

To mark the occasion Bridlington’s Mayor Michael Charlesworth and town councillors will climb aboard for a special trip.

The vessel has carried generations of passengers up and down the East Coast since being built at the Cook, Welton and Gemmell yard in Beverley in 1947.

Today the vessel will cruise out to Flamborough Head with the councillors, former crew and people who have helped out over the years on board.

In season she aims to go once a day to the 400ft high chalk cliffs at Bempton, one of the most important seabird nesting sites in the UK, but since the start of April has only been four times because of the weather, making it the worst start to the season in 30 years.

There are few working boats of her age remaining – the furthest she has travelled from her berth at Bridlington harbour was for one or two winter lay-ups in Grimsby – but Mr Richardson thinks there is plenty of life left in her yet.

He says as long as there is money for her upkeep there is no reason why she shouldn’t celebrate her centenary.

He said: “When I was a little boy it was the only boat I wanted to go out in Bridlington. She was always the best-looking one, she has beautiful lines and still looks as modern as she did in 1947, in my opinion.

“It has just about been my whole life since 1981.”