www.isleofwightwss.org.uk iowwss iow wss world ship society isle of wight branch newport isle of wight meeting place for the isle of wight branch of the world ship society island ship club shipping club for ship enthusiasts ship spotters ship spotting ship club isle of wight shipping club isle of wight ship society ship societies isle of wight solent ship club solent shipping club solent ship societies world ship society watching ships from the isle of wight www.isleofwightwss.org.uk where to watch ships how to watch ships interested in ships shipping organisation located isle of wight location south coast solent ship club organisation information about ship clubs society website members ship club membership how to join the isle of wight ship club contact fellow shipping enthusiasts with an interest in maritime and nautical matters old books postcards ship photography club taking photos photographs of shipping in the solent southampton and portsmouth taking pictures of cruise ships and liners historic and modern day vessels maritime library available to members full program programme of events slide shows video shows social club meeting gathering near the sea to watch the ships in the solent library reference resource available to members who join publications available at reduced price classic liners and passenger vessels marine news journal of the world ship society passenger ship society south coast ship society future events an international society whose aim is to stimulate and maintain interest in ships and shipping throughout the world worldwide www.isleofwightwss.org.uk isle of wight clubs and societies photographing ships shipping movements southampton portsmouth and the solent maritime information
The Isle of Wight Branch was formed in 1948, and the founder members included Bill Clark (at whose home - "Dolinda" - the fledgling branch met), Tom Rayner, Cecil Pearce, Edgar Thomas, Keith Abraham and Ray Sprake. Those meetings consisted of shipping gossip and looking up information in Bill Clark's large and varied collection of shipping books.
By 1959, the membership of the Branch had nearly doubled, and the Branch made annual visits to London Docks, which in those days was full of shipping. Also during 1959 the branch incorporated the trip to London with a ship visit - ARGENTINA STAR of the Blue Star Line, in the Victoria Dock. Our members were joined by some members of the London WSS Branch.
By 1962, the membership had grown so much that they had to look for alternative premises in which to hold meetings, "Dolinda" being too small. The venue chosen was the Meeting Room at Newport Social Club, and the monthly meetings were held on the first Thursday of each month. This enabled the Branch to invite guest speakers, the first of whom was Bert Moody of Southampton (the outgoing General Secretary at the time). The subject of his talk was Troopships.
By 1963, the Branch membership had topped 38, and included present members Tony Westmore and John Cheverton. In September of that year the Society's then General Secretary, Terry Cresswell, gave a talk to the Branch on Greek coastal passenger ships.
The Branch newsletter first appeared in 1958, and was posted to all members until rising postal charges made this impracticable. However, some members distributed the Newsletter to various districts. This was edited by Ray Sprake, until his premature death in 1990. Chris Bancroft then took over, and it is currently edited by John Cheverton.
After the Social Club, the Branch meetings moved to the Congregational Hall in Newport, then the Unitarian Church Hall in 1975. The Branch remained there until moving to the Meeting Room of the Lord Louis Library in 1984. In 2000, because of rising room hire charges and the desire of the Library to make alternative use of the Meeting Room, we moved to our current location at the back room of the Women's Institute in Newport, but are moving again to the staff social club at Camp Hill Prison on the outskirts of Newport from January 2006.
As well as a full meeting programme, we have ship visits, annual photographic competitions, an annual quiz and a boat trip in June to either Southampton or Portsmouth.
