The Dorset Branch of the World Ship Society meets on the second Saturday afternoon of the month between September and May at Colehill Village Hall in Dorset (BH21 2LR), 2.15pm for a 2.30pm start. All meetings are “hybrid” sharing our Dorset venue event with a wider member community via Zoom giving local members the choice between getting together or enjoying the event at home.
Our nine meetings per year have been widely acknowledged as informative and well presented, attracting popular and respected speakers from the local, national and international ships, shipping and maritime history scene. Visitors to our branch are always welcome ~ in person or via Zoom ~ please get in touch. Initial invitations come with no obligation, and we hope you enjoy the afternoon. Ongoing participants are encouraged to support branch membership ~ for only £21 a year. For details of our future events programme please see www.shipdorset.org/events and do contact us. Hybrid meetings now allow us to welcome you wherever you are in the world! Email us via info@shipsdorset.org or to find out more see www.shipsdorset.org
Dorset Branch Secretary – Steve Pink … Email – steve@telecommerce.co.uk … Tel. – 07831 111589
~ Support your local WSS Branch … and join us too! ~
WSS DORSET 2026/27 MEETING PROGRAMME
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12th September 2026
~ The Lavender Hull Mob! ~
~ with Robin Plumley ~
A personal perspective of Union Castle Line …
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10th October 2026
~ Mauretania – Truly the Most Beautiful …~
~ with David Hutchings ~
Mauretania of 1907 … turbine-driven … four propellers … largest ship built to date …
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14th November 2026
~ An Asian Almanac ~
~ with Steve Pink ~
Seen in the Far East … pilot boats … coastal cargo ships … ferries … even an ocean liner …
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12th December 2026
~ Winter Shipping in the Baltic ~
~ with Des Upcraft ~
Icebreaking in the Northern Baltic … with ship photography, maps and ice charts …
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9th January 2027
~ A trip on Stettin plus Suur Toll and more ~
~ with David Trevor-Jones ~
Hamburg’s coal-fired steam icebreaker … plus preserved icebreakers in Tallin and Stockholm …
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13th February 2027
~ Port of Southampton – Evolution and Revolution ~
~ with Derek Dubber ~
Port development … focus from 1960’s … ferries, cargo & passenger ships to the present day …
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13th March 2027
~ Out of the Comfort Zone ~
~ with Bill Mayes ~
Trips on unusual ships or in challenging locations …
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10th April 2027
~ 30 years on the Scheldt ~
~ with Krispen Atkinson ~
Ocean-going shipping traversing the river to Antwerp, Gent, Terneuzen and Vlissingen …
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8th May 2027
~ First Class Cargo: combination cargo-passenger ships ~
~ with Bill Miller ~
Passengers & 000’s tons of cargo … freighter & elegant cruise-like ship “all in one” …
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