William Lawrie Sinclair talk at Scottish Maritime Museum

Lawrie Sinclair, chair of the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust, will give a talk on the fascinating maritime career of his grandfather, the renowned William Lawrie Sinclair, at the Scottish Maritime Museum on Thursday August 17.

The talk, 'A Sailor’s Log – From Square Rigged Ships to Submarines', is one of the highlights of the events programme around the Museum’s current exhibition, ‘Dream Destination’. 

At the event, which runs from 6pm until 8.45pm at the Museum on Irvine Harbourside, Lawrie - a former managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne - will share insights and anecdotes about his grandfather William, who was born in Stevenston.

After being educated at Irvine Royal Academy, William went to sea in 1909, rounding Cape Horn on several occasions and later serving on submarines during the First World War.

William Lawrie Sinclair was born in Stevenston and retired to Saltcoats - but he saw plenty of the world in between (Image: Scottish Maritime Museum)

After the war, William joined the Glasgow-based Anchor Line shipping company, rising from the rank of 3rd Mate to Master and then to the role of Marine Superintendent. 

He then joined the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1934 as its marine superintendent at the north Wales port of Holyhead, before being posted to London in 1937 as Chief Marine Superintendent - before finally retiring back to Saltcoats in 1952.

Guests at the evening talk can also view the ‘Dream Destination’ exhibition which celebrates the rise of Scotland’s seaside resorts and the golden era of steamboat travel ‘doon the watter’.

A glass of wine or beer or non alcoholic juice on arrival is included in the event ticket.

Tickets to the talk cost £9 and are available at www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org - where you can also find out more about the museum itself.

You can also follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @scotmaritime.