Newman's Cruises - Newman Family of Tolverne - River Fal - Ferry & Excursion Ship Postcards and Images


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Newman's Cruises


This page shows the ferries and excursion boats of the Newman family of Tolverne, on the River Fal. Newman's cruises operate regular services from Falmouth Custom House Quay to Trelissick and Tolverne. Phone 01872 580309 for more information about sailing on these boats.

The River Fal Steamship Company and its predecessors had run service from Falmouth to Truro between 1877 and the second world war. In their absence, Rodney 'Pete' Newman operated the 30 passenger launch Freelance from Falmouth to Tolverne Cottage in 1946. The Newman family had moved to Tolverne from Mylor in 1934. They had been running the 12 passenger launch Mystery since 1937, mainly tendering shipping laid up in the Fal.

The Newmans bought an ex-Admiralty launch which they named Skylark, and which George Newman converted for passenger use. A second similar launch, acquired from the Channel Islands, was named Skylark II. A larger vessel Worcester Castle was acquired and rebuilt by George Newman as the Skylark of Tolverne, entering service in 1954. Following the deaths of Rodney and George Newman in 1960 and 1961, the family sold the boats. Skylark II went to the Green Boats fleet (to be added) and Skylark of Tolverne became the Tenby Queen after two years at Paington as the Beach Belle.

The Newman family returned to boat ownership in 1982 when Peter Newman bought the ex-Admiralty launch Heather. Heather was used on trips from Falmouth Town Quay to Tolverne Cottage, where the family offered meals and teas. The family have collected many items of memorabilia from the various ships which have been laid up in the Fal, and these are on display. Cornish Belle returned to the Fal from St Ives in 1996, when purchased by Peter Newman of Tolverne. She retained her Cornish Belle name. In 2007 he sold her to Brixham and replaced her with the Alice-Marie from Poole, which he then renamed Queen of the Fal. Queen of the Fal was offered for sale in November 2007, and was replaced in service in 2008 by the smaller vessel Look Ahead II. Queen of the Fal returned to service in 2009, alongside the Look Ahead II., but was sold for use at Poole in 2010.

Services in 2008 were operated by the Look Ahead II. Look Ahead II is another vessel from the celebrated yard of Blackmore, Bideford. 42 ft long and built of wood, she came new to St Mawes in 1960. In 1977 she was running excursions from St Mawes, licensed for 53 passengers and owned by Messrs. Penrose & Davies. By 1989 her operator was the F & B Boat Co., later Balcomb Boat Co. Around 1998 Look Ahead II went to Plymouth where she joined the fleet of Tamar Cruising and took the name of Tamar Belle (1), remaining there until 2004. That year she left for Tewkesbury where she was the Avon Belle II. Following the disastrous floods of 2007 she was put up for sale and was bought by the Newman family, returned to the River Fal and had her original name restored. In order to secure her Rhos Newman had to buy another vessel from her owners, named Champion. Champions for sale.


Contacts:-
Web:- :- www.newmanscruises.co.uk
Email:- tolverne@btconnect.com
Phone:- 01872 520564

Sections on This Page:-
Newman's Cruises Fleet List
Newman's Timetables

Vessels on This Page:-
Champion (2008-2009) - not used in service
Cornish Belle (1995-2007)
Freelance (1945-1958)
Heather (1983-1995)
Look Ahead II (2008- )
Queen of the Fal (2005-2010)
Skylark (1945-1962)
Skylark II (1948-1962)
Skylark of Tolverne (1954-1962)

Timetable Archive:-
2008 Timetable - Adobe PDF file

Other Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Pages:-
Cornwall Header Page
Falmouth 2008 Overview
Falmouth Pleasure Cruises
Green Boats
Flushing Ferry
Isles of Scilly SS
K&S Cruises
Newman's Cruises - this page
Pill Family
River Fal Steamship Company
Scilly Inter-island Boats
St Mawes Ferry

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships and Ports
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

References:-
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - editions from 1977 to 2007 Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
Passenger Steamers of the Rover Fal - Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press, 1988
Steamers & Ferries of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly - Alan Kittridge - Tempus, 2004
My thanks to Rhos Newman, Graham Thorne, Geoff Hamer, John Hendy and John Pill for assistance with this page

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Newman's Cruises
Each image links to a larger copy which will open in a new window or tab

(Newman: 1945-c1958)
Built: c.1930 - 30 ft long - 30 passengers

Freelance was built in the West Indies in the 1930s. She was bought off a ship in the River Fal in 1945 and converted by George Newman into a passenger vessel carrying 30. She was sold in the late 1950s to Falmouth owners for use as a dive and salvage ship. She was 30 ft long.
Freelance in the late 1940s
Photo: © Rhos Newman

Postcard of Freelance at Truro
Scan: Rhos Newman

Freelance (right) at the Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth
Front row - Evelina, Marina (1), Freelance - Pier end: Water Spry
Photo: © Rhos Newman

On board the Freelance
Photo: © Rhos Newman
Skylark
(Newman: 1945-1962 - Built: 1942)

Built: 1945 - 47 ft long - 80 passengers

Skylark was ex-Admiralty built 1942 and ran with Newman, Tolverne. Sold privately 1962.

Skylark at Falmouth
Photo: © Rhos Newman


Skylark at Falmouth
Photo: © Rhos Newman

DEM Thomas postcard of Skylark moored stern-in to the Prince of Wales Pier at Falmouth
Front row - Evelina, Unknown, Marina (1) - Centre: Skylark
Back row:- Skylark II, Temptress, unknown, unknown, unknown



Postcard showing Skylark of Tolverne and Skylark at Falmouth

Front row - Skylark of Tolverne, Skylark, Temptress (1), Marina II, Sea Horse or Merry Widow
Back row:- unidentified, Scotia, Evelina, Marina (1), Y Not
Postcard showing Skylark of Tolverne and Skylark at Falmouth
Front Row: Skylark of Tolverne, Skylark, Temptress (1), Marina II
Back Row: Unknown, Scotia, Evelina, Marina (1), Y Not

Postcard of Skylark (left) at Truro with later wheelhouse, and Queen of the Fal (1)
Photo: © Rhos Newman


Skylark at Truro with later wheelhouse
Photo: © Rhos Newman
Skylark II
(Newman: c.1948-1962 - Built: 1942)

Built: 1942 - 47 ft long - 80 passengers
Skylark II was ex-Admiralty and ran with Newman, Tolverne from the late 1940s. She had been running from Jersey to France as St Aubin. Sold to Green Boats in 1962 and to Bob Rogers in the late 1970s, then to the Pill family in the early 1980s. With Elworthy, Millbrook from 1984, to Brixham c.1990 and with the Brixham Belles from c.2000 and renamed Mariner. Came back to the Fal with Cornwall Ferries 2003 and renamed Lady Julia. For sale 2004, and now running at Stourport-on-Severn as Skylark II (www.severnferry.co.uk).
Skylark II at Truro in 1953
Photo: © Rhos Newman

Postcard of Skylark II (left) at Malpas with Queen of the Fal (1)
Scan: Rhos Newman

Postcard of Skylark II (left) at Malpas with Queen of the Fal (1)
Enlarged view of the card above
Scan: Rhos Newman

DEM Thomas postcard of boats at Prince of Wales Pier, including Skylark II - her stern just visible to the left of Skylark
Front row - Evelina, Unknown, Marina (1) - Centre: Skylark
Back row:- Skylark II, Temptress, unknown, unknown, unknown


Skylark II in Pill ownership
Photo: © Alan Kittridge

Skylark of Tolverne
(Newman: c.1954-1962 - Built: 1926)
Built: 1926 - 70 ft long - 250 passengers
Skylark of Tolverne ran with Newman, Tolverne 1954 to 1962. She was built in Bideford by M.W.Blackmore Worcester Castle for the White family at Aberystwyth. She was sold to Victory Pleasure of Falmouth, who went bankrupt in 1952. She was sold to Dartmouth as a house boat but was bought as a hulk by Newmans Cruises in 1953. She was rebuilt for the 1954 season as Skylark of Tolverne. In 1963 she was sold to C.Bewley of Paignton as the Beach Belle. Sold again in 1965 to Tenby owners as the Tenby Queen. In 1977 she was sold to Mike Barrow of Exmouth. In 1983 she broke her back when lifted from the water and was deemed beyond repair.

Skylark of Tolverne at Falmouth

Photo: © Rhos Newman

Skylark of Tolverne at Malpas

Postcard showing Skylark of Tolverne and Skylark at Falmouth
Front row - Skylark of Tolverne, Skylark, Temptress, Marina II, Sea Horse or Merry Widow
Back row:- unidentified, Scotia, Evelina, Marina (1), Y Not

Postcard showing Skylark of Tolverne and Skylark at Falmouth
Front Row: Skylark of Tolverne, Skylark, Temptress (1), Marina II
Back Row: Unknown, Scotia, Evelina, Marina (1), Y Not

Skylark of Tolverne at Malpas Beach
Photo: © Rhos Newman

Postcard showing Skylark of Tolverne as the Tenby Queen

Skylark of Tolverne as the Tenby Queen at Tenby
Scan: Rhos Newman

Heather
(Newman: 1983-1995 - Built: 1945)

Built: 1945 - 37 ft long - 50 passengers

The Newman family returned to boat ownership in 1982 when Peter Newman bought the ex-Admiralty launch Heather. Heather was used on trips from Falmouth Town Quay to Tolverne Cottage, where the family offered meals and teas. Heather was built in 1945 as a warship tender and came to Falmouth in 1970 with T.R.Gunn. She ran to Smugglers Cottage until 1983 when she was bought by Newmans Cruises. They sold her in 1995 for use on the Isle of Skye until about 2003. Subsequent fate unknown.


Jarrold postcard KFL149 showing Heather - the white boat moored second from the left
Front row:- unknown, Heather, Tamar Belle, unknown, with an unknown vessel leaving in the background

1980s Newman's leaflet featuring Heather




Cornish Belle
(Newman: 1995-2007)

Built: 1951 - 51 feet long - 25 gross tons - 99 passengers

Cornish Belle was built by Frazer of Mevagissey for Harry Johns of Falmouth as his Queen of the Fal. He later founded Enterprise Boats who are still going strong. In 1963 she left Falmouth and went to St. Ives where she became the Cornish Belle and ran first for Paynter and then for Wilson. She returned to the Fal in 1996 with Newmans of Tolverne, retaining her Cornish Belle name. In 2007 Newmans sold her to Brixham and replaced her with the Alice-Marie from Poole, which he then renamed Queen of the Fal.

Cornish Belle sported the 'CPS' flag on her funnel (Carol and Peter Scott). They had bought the old Brixham Belle (now with Dolphin World (Gibraltar)) when Ernie Cudd retired, then had Brixham Belle II (which has had many names but has now become Western Lady VII) and now run the Torbay Belle. Cornish Belle passed to Belfast owners in 2009, renamed Mona.



Cornish Belle at St Ives



Cornish Belle in Newman's ownership on the Fal



Cornish Belle on Torquay/Brixham service after sale by Newman's



Cornish Belle on Torquay/Brixham service



Cornish Belle on Torquay/Brixham service



Cornish Belle on Torquay/Brixham service



Cornish Belle on Torquay/Brixham service
Queen of the Fal
(Newman: 2005-2010 )

Built: 1938 - 57 ft long - 100 passengers

Queen of the Fal was built in 1938 by Noble of Fraserburgh and worked at Rothesay for many years as the Gay Queen. She later became the Alice-Marie at Poole. She has been in the Newman fleet, at Tolverne, since 2005, named Queen of the Fal. She was available for sale in November 2007, and has been replaced by the smaller vessel Look Ahead II. She is the sister of Queen of Falmouth, originally Maid of Bute, which also served at Rothesay. Queen of the Fal returned to service in 2009, working with Look Ahead II, but was sold for use at Poole in 2010.


Queen of the Fal as Gay Queen at Rothesay

Queen of the Fal and original sister Queen of Falmouth at Falmouth Prince of Wales Pier



Queen of the Fal laid up at Tolverne



Queen of the Fal laid up at Tolverne



Queen of the Fal laid up at Tolverne



Queen of the Fal laid up at Tolverne



Queen of the Fal laid up at Tolverne
Look Ahead II
(Newman: 2008- )

Built: 1960 - 42 ft long - 60 passengers

Look Ahead II is another vessel from the celebrated yard of Blackmore, Bideford. 42 ft long and built of wood, she came new to St Mawes in 1960. In 1977 she was running excursions from St Mawes, licensed for 53 passengers and owned by Messrs. Penrose & Davies. By 1989 her operator was the F & B Boat Co, later Balcomb Boat Co.

Around 1997 Look Ahead II went to Plymouth where she joined the fleet of K.Bridge. She passed to Tamar Cruising in 1998, taking the name of Tamar Belle (1), remaining there until 2004. That year she left for Tewkesbury where she ran as the Avon Belle II for Telstar Cruises. Following the disastrous floods of 2007 she was put up for sale and was bought by the Newman family, returned to the River Fal and had her original name restored.

In order to secure her Rhos Newman had to buy another vessel from her owners, named Champion. Champions for sale, as is the Newmans' previous vessel, Queen of the Fal, advertised in late 2007. Queen of the Fal was the Alice-Marie at Poole and originally Gay Queen at Rothesay. She came to the Fal in 2006 and replaced the Cornish Belle, which is now at Torbay.


Avon Belle II arriving back on the Fal prior to conversion into Look Ahead II



The Newman fleet pre-season at Tolverne in March 2008 - Queen of the Fal, Look Ahead II and Champion
Look Ahead II was refitted for the 2008 season (see below) - Queen of the Fal and Champion are for sale


Look Ahead II on her Falmouth to Tolverne run, looking extremely smart



Look Ahead II on her Falmouth to Tolverne run



Look Ahead II on her Falmouth to Tolverne run



Look Ahead II on her Falmouth to Tolverne run



Look Ahead II leaving Falmouth for Tolverne



Look Ahead II leaving Falmouth for Tolverne



Look Ahead II leaving Falmouth for Tolverne



Look Ahead II leaving Falmouth for Tolverne
Champion

Champion was acquired with the Look Ahead II in 2008, but was not used and was subsequently sold for private use to a Fal owner.


The Newman fleet pre-season at Tolverne in March 2008 - Queen of the Fal, Look Ahead II and Champion
Look Ahead II was refitted for the 2008 season (see below)


Champion at Tolverne



Champion at Tolverne
Timetables
Contacts:-
Web:- :- www.newmanscruises.co.uk
Web 2:- www.falriverlinks.co.uk
Email:- tolverne@btconnect.com
Phone:- 01872 580309

1950s Newman's leaflet featuring Skylark of Tolverne

1980s Newman's leaflet featuring Heather

1980s Newman's advertising board featuring Heather

2008 Newman's Timetable - check with operator for 2009 sailing times
2008 Timetable Adobe PDF file
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