A YOUNG school pupil who is obsessed with CalMac ferries was given the unique opportunity to steer the MV Loch Shira and visit the top deck after it returned to service recently.
Ten-year-old Cumbrae Primary pupil Lilly Currie has been fascinated with ferries, and the MV Loch Shira in particular, since a young age and was beside herself with excitement when she was offered the chance one day at the end of August.
The primary six youngster was spotted by CalMac staff having a close look at the vessel upon its return from repairs, as Lily and her mum Susan were invited to the top deck and greeted by the captain in a surprise invite - and even given the rare opportunity to steer the ship.
Susan said: "A massive thank you and so much gratitude to the CalMac crew for making a wee 10-year-old girl's dream come true, anyone who knows Lily knows she is obsessed with the ferries, especially the Loch Shira.
"She got to assist sailing from Largs home to Cumbrae on the last sailing, and press the announcement button, she is still reeling with excitement from it. Lily got the opportunity to steer the ferry for most of the sailing on what was a glorious calm day.
"The guys were amazing, so much love to all of them from the deck crew who arranged for her to go up to the skippers and crew upstairs who were very patient and taught her a lot.
"CalMac's next female engineer in the making, what a crew. Thank you - we have one very very happy wee girl who will never forget that."
Lily's father is Austen Currie who runs Island Express with gran Mary Currie who is former News correspondent for Millport Notes.
Susan, who is the practice manager at Millport GP surgery, said: "This was very much something special for Lily which she will never forget.
"She downloaded the app and always keeps an eye on all the sailings, and even when the Shira was getting repaired, she was following all the latest updates.
"She is so obsessed she sometimes wants to wait behind for the next ferry if the current one isn't the Shira and pays great attention to everything on board from tannoy announcements to how it looks."
With the MV Loch Shira away having repairs, Susan revealed that daughter Lily had launched her own countdown for the Shira's return and it was certainly more than worth it as she got the special insight not long after it had come back to service.
She added: "It was fascinating to visit the top deck with Lily and to see parts of the ferry which the public don't generally see, and my daughter was absolutely made up afterwards, and phoned all the family and friends, and told everyone in the school about the great experience.
"Even though it was over a month ago, she is still buzzing about it!"
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