title The Waverley Paddle Steamer at Southwold Pier, Suffolk - 27th September 2023 intro Isobel gets wind that the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world - The Waverley, built on the Clyde in 1946 - is docking at Southwold Pier to pick up passengers for a tour down to London. It's a rare opportunity to see the pier in action in a way that was popular back in Victorian times, so we head down for the day to have a look, along with several-hundred other people who have packed onto the pier for a nose too. Before that, it's Fred's birthday and he's got a radio-controlled plane to fly around over the 100-acre field. imgc0005 Fred tries out his new radio-controlled plane imgc0011 The boys leg it after the plane lands in sugarbeet imgc0019 We have a birthday tea for Fred imgc0020 Harry lights a candle imgc0022 Nosher's up at Diss Business Park for some yoga imgp7085 The beach huts of Southwold imgp7088 The paddle steamer Waverley at Southwold Pier imgp7096 Crew hang around on the gangway imgp7097 A view of the Waverley imgp7111 Someone waves a yellow streamer imgp7118 Isobel on the pier at Southwold imgp7119 A classic view of Southwold imgp7121 Crowds on the end of the pier imgp7126 An old dude does some fishing in a quiet corner imgp7144 The first officer and captain survey the chaos imgp7149 The boat and the pier are packed imgp7152 The gangway is removed imgp7158 The steamer sets sail imgp7166 A crowded paddle steamer imgp7170 The Waverley heads off into the North Sea imgp7176 The paddle steamer turns round to head to London imgp7180 A view from the pier as Waverley heads off south imgp7186 Isobel watches the action imgp7189 Tim Hunkin's clock has been moved imgp7194 We try out some of the comedy mirrors imgp7196 Isobel buys an emergency swimsuit imgp7197 A George Orwell quote on a wall imgp7198 Some dude does a bit of fishing by the pier imgp7199 More Southwold beach huts imgp7201 Isobel dries off after a swim imgp7205 A seagull takes off from a groyne imgp7210 A school outing looks live a javelin team imgp7212 A seagull looks for scraps imgp7215 The Reading Room cottage, with original windows imgp7217 In the Little Fish and Chip Shop's courtyard imgp7218 Stripey huts on the beach imgp7220 Isobel looks at some royal-named beach huts imgp7224 An old sign for the Sea Birds Inn imgp7225 Steps over a groyne have been buried imgp7228 Isobel looks at a nice old Renault 4 imgp7229 The corner of High Street and Church Street imgp7230 Isobel looks at a very bold juvenile herring gull imgp7231 Cute water bowls for dogs imgp7232 Isobel walks back to the car park