"It has been devastating but this is not the end": Skipper of historic Doncaster party boat speaks out following suspected arson

The Wyre Lady, which is based at Sprotbrough locks and was operated by the Royal Navy in World War Two, was set on fire last Wednesday (June 24).

The flames ripped through the majority of the front of the boat, completely destroying the original navigation equipment, wheel and brass and teak interiors from 1938, which were still in use on the 82-year-old vessel.

Now an effort to get the much-loved boat back on the river is underway, with well-wishers from ‘all over the world’ who have served on The Wyre Lady in its various guises over the years sending messages of concern and support.

Owner and skipper Tom Waddoups, who spent 16 years lovingly caring for The Wyre Lady, had only been at home a short while after doing maintenance work on the river cruiser all day when the fire brigade called him and told him it was on fire.

“By the time I got there the fire brigade had done an amazing job putting the fire out, but the damage was already severe.

“The flames destroyed most of the upper deck and the passenger accommodation space. Right from the wheel box all the way to half way down the boat has been obliterated, including lots of the original 1938 features.

“It has been a completely devastating, horrible experience. It is hard to describe, but we’ve been going from anger, to anguish, to heartbreak. And when the fire investigators confirmed it had likely been caused deliberately that made it even worse.”

In spite of the horror he has felt over the destruction of his boat, Tom aid that he has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support he has received, and this has made him all the more determined to get The Wyre Lady up and running again.

“A lot of people care about this boat,” he said. “It has been part of Doncaster for 40 years, and before that people from all over have been involved.

“I’ve had so many messages. An old skipper from when she was on The Clyde in Glasgow in the 1960s contacted me.

“We’ve had the Go Fund Me page set up for us, which is incredibly generous. People are concerned, so I want to reassure them that although this is devastating we are trying to be positive and I know that this is not the end.”

Tom has spoken to his insurers and specialists about how they can go about restoring the boat as faithfully as possible, “bolt by bolt, plank by plank”, and the skipper hopes to be back on the river “in the next six months or so”.

“The Wyre Lady is on the National Historic Ship Register, so there are guidelines about what we can do. And because it is such an old boat some very specialist knowledge and work is needed,” he said

“I believe it is achievable, but we have a monumental restoration task ahead of us.

“I just hope the police investigation finds who is responsible, as I would never want anything like this to happen to us, or anybody else, again.”

The Wyre Lady started life as a railway passenger ferry before being requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1939.

It was brought to Doncaster by former owner Alan Oliver, who still helps Tom with its maintenance.

A fundraiser to support the restoration of The Wyre Lady has been set up. You can support it here.

Police are looking for witnesses and dashcam footage following the fire at Sprotbrough Lock last Wednesday between 6pm and 6.30pm.