THE VITAL SPARK

Our Harley-Davidson Chapter Rideout took us to Inveraray today where we saw the Vital Spark tied up at Inveraray Pier. 'Eilean Eisdeal' was the name given to her by the Easdale Shipping Company but she was re-registered in 2006 as the 'Vital Spark of Glasgow', named after the stories written by the Inveraray writer Neil Munro who wrote about 'Para Handy', skipper of the puffer, the 'Vital Spark'. The original BBC Series Para Handy - Master Mariner ran from 1959–60. Six episodes were filmed, none of which survive. The second version, The Vital Spark, ran for three series between 1965 and 1974. The third series, filmed several years after the first two, was in colour and consisted of remakes of selected earlier episodes. Having seen some of the TV series, it was great to see the actual puffer in real life so to speak.

Please go for large