AN ANONYMOUS source has donated an incredible £1 million to a project to restore a historic ship in Glasgow.
The TS Queen Mary, currently berthed at Pacific Quay and celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, is being restored by the campaign group Friends of TS Queen Mary with a view to having her sailing once again within the next few years.
Now the project has received an "astonishing" boost from the mysterious benefactor, who has given the ship its biggest-ever single donation.
The cash windfall takes the fundraising total to £4.8m, almost halfway to the anticipated £10m total cost of giving the steamer a new lease of life.
It will be used to construct new steel decks to ensure the ship complies with modern maritime safety requirements.
Iain Sim, chair of Friends of TS Queen Mary, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this individual.
"It delivers a massive boost to our fundraising endeavour which has caught the public mood across Britain and around the world.
“The individual who made such a substantial cash gift wishes to remain anonymous and we, of course, respect that request.
"But to say we are over the moon is putting it mildly."
Back in her heyday, the TS Queen Mary carried 13,000 passengers each week and was known as the 'Glasgow Boat' because of her strong connection to the city.
Four years ago, Princess Anne became the Royal Patron of the ship and it was while she embarked on a visit to the vessel in April 2022 that it was revealed the Queen Mary would sail once again on the Clyde.
Last year, actor Sam Neill became the ship's Commonwealth Patron, with his spokesperson saying: "He loves ships and knows that the Queen Mary has a particularly rich history."
The Jurassic Park star plans to visit the Queen Mary for her rededication cruise when the work is finished, which is now one step closer thanks to the generous anonymous donation.
Mr Sim added: “Our work continues to restore an iconic British ship whose proud history serving the Clyde rekindles many memories for tens of thousands of Scots and others across the world.
"We want to say to this most generous benefactor: thanks a million!”
