Steamship Shieldhall: King's Award for Voluntary Service

VIPs, captains, volunteers and more were welcomed aboard the Steamship Shieldhall to mark the occasion, as the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire presented the King's Award to Captain Martin Phipps.

The award for Voluntary Service, which was announced in November last year, has also fallen on the ship's 70th birthday.

The VIPs arrive aboard (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) READ MORE: History of SS Shieldhall: From sludge ship to historic marvel

Captain Martin Phipps said: "We are very pleased and proud.

"We are using the ship more and more to help the local community and other charities where we can, which is what I think we should be doing."

Martin also thanked all of the charity's supporters, trustees and volunteers, without whom "there would not be a ship".

Volunteer Phil Stephens and Captain Martin Phipps (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) READ MORE: New sailing programme revealed for Steamship Shieldhall

Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, said: "It is a very special award for any charity to win, and only 281 in the whole of the country.

"The Shieldhall have done amazingly to get this award. 

"The ship is very special to me, especially as they have won it on their 70th birthday, and I like all the work they do with dedication and schools, apart from being a lovely old ship."

Lord Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Also in attendance among the VIPs was the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Cllr David Shields, who said: "It is a great occasion. The ship is an important part of our history here."

Based at Southampton's Western Docks, the Steamship Shieldhall is run by more than 100 volunteers who donate 30,000 hours each year.

The 1,972-ton vessel was built and launched on the River Clyde in 1955.

(Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

For many years she was owned by Glasgow Corporation, which used her to take treated sludge out to sea as well as providing pleasure trips in the summer.

Bought by Southern Water in 1977, she was finally withdrawn from commercial service in 1985. Three years later the ship was purchased by SSC for £20,000.

Widely regarded as the equivalent of an MBE, the award was created in 2002 to mark the late Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee and was retained following the accession of King Charles III.