Plan to name Gourock slipway after ferry service figure

Councillor John Crowther has put forward a request to name the ramp which sits immediately west of the pierhead ‘Ritchie’s Slipway’, after the late Robert Arthur Ritchie.

He was the last owner of Ritchie Brothers Ferry Masters which ran the passenger service between Gourock and the village of Kilcreggan on the Rosneath peninsula.

It is also proposed to erect a plaque between the pierhead and the north-east car park at Lower Kempock Street.

Mr Ritchie died in July and his family have backed the tribute ideas which are set to be put before the environment and regeneration committee.

Councillor Crowther said: “The family have indicated they are supportive of such a proposal.

“Robert was the last of the Ritchie Brothers Ferry Masters, who operated the small passenger ferry service between Gourock and Kilcreggan and, whilst initially the service ran from the Fyfe Place Ship which was rented from Gourock Burgh Council, latterly the ferries departed from the shore adjacent to the Clyde Pilots Station at Gourock Pierhead.

“He was also the owner of a nearby small boat shed at Kempock Point.

“The slipway in question lies between where the ferry service operated and the boat shed where the vessels were maintained.

“This motion for the slipway to be formally named plus an information plaque installed fulfils historical and tourism strategies by the council.

“It is also worthwhile noting an HM Coastguard Station was previously sited at Kempock Point and [this] could enhance the current walking route by encapsulating Inverclyde’s rich maritime history.”

The boat shed was eventually vacated in 1979 and moved to the former McLean’s Yard at Cove Road, with the Kempock Point land being acquired by the council.

Extensive research by SNP councillor Mr Crowther, including a thorough scan of historic planning documents, suggests the slipway has never been given an adopted name.

The idea will be discussed at a meeting on January 13.