Click on the picture to hear an extract by George McKechnie from our 2019 DVD

Before the pier was built, Whiting Bay and passengers had to disembark at the jetty. Traffic had increased gradually to such an extent that it became impossible to cope without a pier.

Whiting Bay pier was opened in April 1899, and was the longest in the Firth of Clyde. The purser of the “Marchioness of Lorne” carried out the honours in front of a large crowd, by asking: “Is this Whiting Bay?” “Yes!” was the reply. “Then I declare this pier duly and truly opened” , and dashed a bottle of champagne against the pier. The pier had three berths and was built of wood. Mr Thomas Miller, who managed the ferryboats for 24 years, was appointed piermaster. It remained in use until 1962 and was demolished in 1964.

Memories of the Pier

Here are some of Chiv’s recollections about the time the pier was closed and then demolished.

1.    Apparently Major Milligan, and various other people did not want the pier to be done away with so thought it would be a good idea to give it a coat of paint. He duly organised a squad to undertake the task but they soon realised it was a far bigger job than they could manage.

2.    When the equipment was brought to the island to demolish the pier, staff at Brodick Pier wouldn’t allow the heavy equipment to be offloaded there. It was then taken to Whiting Bay pier where it was duly offloaded on the “unsafe” pier!

3.    After work had started on demolishing the pier, fire broke out between the shore and the expensive machinery. A crowd had gathered to watch the fire kindling nicely. At some point Hugh Miller joined the onlookers and made the comment that perhaps the fire brigade should be called out. Someone enquired “How do we do that?”. Hugh replied “I’m one of the fire crew. I’ll just go and get the fire engine”. If he hadn’t been “called out” he wouldn’t have got paid! He duly collected the fire engine from Lennox’s garage.

He also remembers, as a young boy, going down the pier with a bogey (Craig Lennox’s) offering to transport luggage the length of the pier- for a small fee, of course!

Hope this is of some interest.Hazel Brown (wife of Chiv Brown, formerly of Royal Bank House- now Stronbuy and Eastwood)

Contribution from Jim Morton

Steamer services April May 1962 which I believe was the last time Whiting Bay Pier appeared on the route.

QUESTIONS ASKED IN PARLIAMENT

Whiting Bay Pier, Arran
HC Deb 27 June 1962 vol 661 cc1157-81157
§27. Mr. Rankin
asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the owners have decided to close Whiting Bay pier, that this action will deprive the inhabitants of the South end of the island of Arran of direct access to the mainland, thus tending to increase the cost of living, and that it will cause them and the visitors who come to the island extreme transport inconvenience; and if he will take the steps necessary to make the pier usable for this summer with a view to its complete rehabilitation for continuous use later.
§Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
My right hon. Friend has received an application from the owners for an order of abandonment and, in accordance with the relevant Statute, he will arrange for a local inquiry to be held after allowing the statutory period of three months for objections.
§Mr. Rankin
Is not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that even before the order to abandon the pier was applied for, the pier was closed? Is this the sort of Parliamentary procedure which the Government are to tolerate? The pier was closed, and then the order to close it was applied for. What is he going to do about that? Does he realise 1158that this has been done on the eve of the opening of the summer trade, and that if he allows this act to go unchallenged, he will be making a major contribution to the depopulation of the Scottish Isles, which his Government say they are trying

§Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
There is, as I know the hon. Gentleman is aware, another pier at Brodick, eight miles away, and I understand that the steamer services are to be switched there. As to the merits of this case, I am sure that the hon. Member would not expect me to express any opinion pending the inquiry.
§Mr. Rankin
Of course, I would not expect the hon. and gallant Gentleman —I say this with the greatest respect to express an opinion on a problem which he knows nothing about, but will he not try to find out something about it? If he does inquire into it, he will find that Brodick Pier cannot carry the traffic that goes to the Isle of Arran in the peak periods. Will he look into that aspect? Will he please decide to try to keep this pier at Whiting Bay open for at least the period of this summer?
§Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
As to the first part of the hon. Gentleman’s supplementary question, these are exactly the points that will come out at the public inquiry.
§Mr. Rankin
But the pier is closed now.
Back to SHIPPING
Forward to Shipping Dispute, United States of America
Noticed a typo? | Report other issues | © UK Parliament
Source > http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1962/jun/27/whiting-bay-pier-arran