ONE of the Clyde’s most famous turbine steamers is about to enter another phase on her journey towards becoming a tourist attraction after a fundraising appeal paid off.

TS Queen Mary will move from James Watt Dock into Dales Marine’s Garvel Dry Dock on Thursday morning for hull repairs after her owners received a £150,000 grant.

The Tele can also reveal that members of the public will get a chance to see behind the scenes next weekend, after the vessel was added to the Doors Open Days programme.

The Friends of Queen Mary have offered a unique opportunity for a limited number of people to see the ship as she is being restored and to hear about her history while she will be dry docked at Garvel.

TS Queen Mary’s last public sailing was an excursion from Largs and Rothesay on September 12 in 1977 — and organisers say it is fitting that local residents now have the chance to visit her again in Greenock, on September 11, almost 40 years later.

Provost Robert Moran said: “This is a wonderful and exciting new addition to the programme. It offers a great insight into our heritage here in Inverclyde and is a great opportunity for people to get up close and discover her history.”

Meanwhile Friends of TS Queen Mary said the funding boost was an ‘amazing step forward’ in the restoration appeal, only 12 weeks after the ship arrived back on the Clyde from the south of England.

In her first drydocking since 1997, the will ship undergo a full inspection and renovation of her hull, with specialist marine coatings applied to protect her from the elements.

Also planned is a total power wash, replacing steel below the waterline, repainting from top to bottom and pulling out redundant cabling.

A combined grant was made by the Clydesdale Bank and by ‘EB Scotland’ through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The total value of the work is believed to be almost £250,000, including corporate gifts of paint and asbestos testing.

Built in 1933, the ship had been in England since 1981, eventually becoming a bar and restaurant complex, but fell into disuse seven years ago.

Jim Pettigrew, chairman of Clydesdale Bank, said it was important for them to support great community projects like this one.

He said: “The TS Queen Mary is a magnificent ship, and I am pleased we have been able to unlock vital funding to support her restoration.”

Scots actor Robbie Coltrane is patron of Friends of TS Queen Mary, who hope to raise £2 million to restore the steamship as an interactive exhibition and an arts and culture venue.

Charity trustee Calum Bryce, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Jim, Clydesdale Bank and EB Scotland for this tremendous boost to our campaign.

“Just 12 months ago this beautiful vessel was stranded on the Thames and facing the scrapheap. Now, she’s back in Scotland and entering dry dock.

“This will be the first time she has been out of the water in almost 20 years. It will give us a unique opportunity to fully inspect her from stem to stern.

“We still have a long way to go to reach the £2 million fundraising target, but we’re confident it can be done.”

l The Doors Open visits will take place at 11am and noon next Sunday for only 15 people at a time and visitors must be over 15 years old.

To book a place call 715564 as soon as possible, as places are very limited.