The Show Boat - River Tamar tea-dancing aboard the Sir Richard Grenville tender

Happy days are here again as couples take a turn on the deck of the Tender TSS (Twin Screw Steamship) the Sir Richard Grenville as it cruises on the River Tamar. Dancing to big band music and Swing or Jazz to the political backdrop of the Great Depression was a way to pass the time. The TSS Sir Richard Grenville was part of the Great Western Railway ships originally used in support service for other ships.

From the 1870s the Great Western Railway use the tender fleet as trip boats, running excursions from Millbay Docks along the coast or to the Eddystone Lighthouse. The White Star Liner Titanic sank on her maiden voyage crossing to New York on 14 April 1912 with the loss of some 1500 souls. The Red Star Liner Lapland brought the surviving crew back to Plymouth on 28 April 1912. The Sir Richard Grenville eventually landed them at Millbay where they refused to make any statements until Union officials joined them. The tender was sold in 1931 and went to Dover.